Have schools really become safer for LGBTQ+ students?
I've seen too many LGBTQ+ teens in my community hide their identity at school because they fear how classmates or even teachers might react. We talk about progress, but a 2023 survey found that over 60% of LGBTQ+ students still hear homophobic remarks regularly. Is it fair to say that school environments for LGBTQ+ youth haven't really improved in a meaningful way? I'm not saying there's zero change—some schools have GSAs and anti-bullying policies—but the everyday experience for many kids still feels hostile. What do you think—have schools actually become safer for LGBTQ+ students, or are we just seeing more surface-level acceptance?