‘I can be myself more’: what students told us about pride groups in schools
LGBTQIA+ support groups often help students feel safe and included at school. But they can be difficult to set up and sustain.
Pride groups in Australian high schools provide LGBTQIA+ students with inclusive spaces for social connection, peer support, and advocacy. These groups, often led by students with guidance from teachers or staff, vary in structure and frequency. However, a lack of research on these groups makes it unclear how many schools have them or the impact they have.
In Tasmania, pride groups are present in many schools, especially in larger towns and cities. Researching the impact of pride groups in Tasmanian high schools, a study found that students highly value these groups as crucial for their wellbeing and as reasons to attend school. Pride groups serve as safe spaces where students can be themselves and feel comfortable, learn about queer-related topics, and envision their futures as LGBTQIA+ adults.
However, the study also revealed that maintaining these groups can be challenging due to high staff turnover, absences, reliance on individual staff members, and competing demands. To ensure the continuity of pride groups, schools should provide consistent schedules, allocate specific workload time for involved staff, develop resources for staff transitions, and create processes for students to take on leadership roles.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
