Every day when I walk into school, I am greeted with the Core Values poster, and the school mission statement on the TV screens. Here, I will quote several areas from these that apply particularly to my situation.

The School Mission Statement: ~~~~~~~~~~ Public Schools strive to prevent, oppose, and prohibit discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, religion, creed, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, homelessness, or disability in its educational programs, services, activities or employee practices.

Core Values

Collaboration

Engagement

Honesty

Perseverance

Respect

I also seem to recall something about a "safe learning environment".

However, these are not the results I see around the school. I am a bisexual, transsexual, student at this school. I do not feel very welcome here. I see other people harassed and called "Fags" and "queers". I hear things thought to be undesirable called "gay". I have been bullied in the past for other reasons, to the point where I sometimes fear physical retaliation outside school. One day, when I walked home from school, I had to keep looking over my shoulder in case someone decided that it would be fun to 'accidentally' clip me with their car. When I saw another student at the pet store, I almost fled. I do not feel safe at this school, but without any concrete evidence, I cannot get anything done about this.

Also, I have a few other problems. From observations I have made, most other schools have at least one unisex bathroom, and many have a GSA or Gay Straight Alliance. My therapist was shocked when I informed them that my school had neither of these. Entering the school men's rooms makes me extremely nervous, and I have taken to not using it at all.

All in all, this school does not seem to be very welcoming. Yes, you are going through the motions and saying you try, but where are the results? Frankly, I'd like to see some, if not for me, then for the other LGBT students who attend this school. I /know/ I am not alone.

Sincerely,