Social-Ecological Examination of Non-Consensual Sexting Perpetration among U.S. Adolescents

Adolescent sexting is a serious public health concern and is associated with adverse psychosocial outcomes, including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, declining academic performance, and health problems. Effective prevention of sexting requires a comprehensive and deep understanding of the multiple contexts whereby sexting is likely to occur. The present study explores individual and contextual risk and protective factors that are associated with sexting behavior among a large sample of adolescents. Participants were high school students in midwestern U.S. (N = 2501; LGB n = 309, 76.4% female; non-LGB n = 2192, 47.4% female) who completed self-report measures of sexting and risk (e.g., pornography exposure, impulsivity) and protective (e.g., social support) factors. Path analysis models were conducted with the sexting outcome for groups of LGB and non-LGB students. Among LGB students, results indicated a significant association between sexting and parental monitoring (b = −0.08, p < 0.01); pornography exposure (b = 0.13, p < 0.05); dating partners (b = 0.01, p < 0.01); bullying perpetration (b = 0.17, p < 0.001); and delinquency (b = 0.13; p < 0.001). Among non-LGB students, significant associations were found between sexting and alcohol/substance use (b = 0.05, p < 0.001); bullying (b = 0.08, p < 0.001); and delinquency (b = 0.06, p < 0.001). Moderation analyses suggest that parental monitoring may have a buffering effect between sexting and several risk factors. Recommendations for practitioners include considering the protective factors of sexting perpetration and encouraging appropriate levels of parental monitoring and the continued importance of bullying and alcohol and drug prevention programming to decrease risk factors of sexting perpetration.

The Gay Teachers Association of NYC and LGB Students: 1974–1985

Background/Context This study deals with an intersection of educational history, queer history, and labor history involving the activities of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) teachers. The history of LGBT teachers, particularly before the 1990s, has been addressed by only a handful of historians. The prior research most relevant to this study is Jackie Blount's Fit to Teach: Same-Sex Desire, Gender, and School Work in the Twentieth Century (2006) and Karen Graves's And They Were Wonderful Teachers (2009). Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study This study focuses on the activities of the Gay Teachers Association of New York City (GTA) between 1974 and 1985 as they related to teachers’ job security and the safety of LGB students in NYC public schools. It aims to illustrate the sense of responsibility toward LGB students developed by members of the GTA and how they acted on that responsibility. Research Design This is a historical study, relying primarily on archival research and secondarily on interviews conducted by the author. Conclusions/Recommendations The teachers of the GTA developed a comprehensive concept of their responsibility as LGB educators. They came to believe that they had a particular responsibility to LGB students. Finally, GTA members actively pursued equity for LGB students in New York City's public schools through counseling, community outreach, political lobbying, and public debate.

Conscience and Cakes: Reaffirming the Distinction Between Institutional Duties and Individual Rights

This article suggests that there may be scope to accommodate individual conscience whilst holding institutions to their full civil duties by making a structural distinction between institutions and individual members and employees. This distinction might circumvent the paralysing contrasts between more abstract human rights categories. This article approaches the question of conscience through the lens of a Dutch legislation on the position of wedding officials and in particular through a thorough critique of it by the Netherlands Council of State. The Council’s critique illuminates two important distinctions, first, between institutions and individuals and, second, between conscience and behaviour. These findings are potentially relevant in cases on access of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people to services provided by private companies. For example, may photographers and videographers deny services to same-sex couples? May a bakery decline to supply wedding cakes? May a bakery refuse to create a custom-made cake for an LGB event? These questions arose, respectively, in the US cases Elane Photography, Telescope, and Masterpiece cases as well as the British Ashers Bakery case. And, should a Christian law school’s accreditation be rejected when a code of conduct impairs access of LGB students, eg in the Canadian Trinity Western cases?

Perceptions of School Climate Among Students Self-Identifying as Lesbian, Gay, or Bisexual

The purpose of the current study was to examine perceptions of school climate among youth identifying as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) using the Georgia Brief School Climate Inventory (GaBSCI). Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to confirm the one-factor school climate construct of the GaBSCI, and measurement invariance was established among LGB students and their counterparts. Students identifying as LGB reported significantly lower perceptions of school climate. Establishing valid and reliable tools that can be integrated within the School Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) framework to guide data-based decision making may enhance positive outcomes for students.

Diversity and Inclusion in the Academy

This chapter describes how graduate students of color and lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) students define diversity and inclusion and describe their classroom experiences with diversity and inclusion. In semi-structured interviews with graduate students of color and students who self-identified as LGB, differing views of diversity and inclusion emerged—diversity was described numerically, while inclusion was discussed in terms of action. Further, graduate students of color described diversity based on visible signs of representation while LGB graduate students emphasized inclusion and the need for voice. This chapter concludes with recommendations that faculty members can enact to create more inclusive classroom environments in higher education.

School Indicators of Violence Experienced and Feeling Unsafe of Dutch LGB Versus Non-LGB Secondary Students and Staff, 2006-2010

Gender and sexual orientation are expressed in heterosexual, lesbian (L), gay (G), bisexual (B), transgender (T), or queer (Q) interests and behavior. Compared with heterosexual persons, LGBTQ persons seem to experience more antisocial behavior, including negative discrimination and violence. To assess differences in LGBTQ-related discrimination in schools, the question for this research is “Do the degrees of violence experienced and feeling unsafe of LGBTQ students and staff in a school differ from those of non-LGBTQ students and staff in the same school?” Secondary analysis was carried out on data from a Dutch national digital monitor survey on safety in secondary schools. In 2006, 2008, and 2010, participation amounted to 570 schools, 18,300 teaching and support staff, and 216,000 students. Four indicators were constructed at the school level: two Mokken Scale means assessing severity of violence experienced and two Alpha Scale means assessing feeling unsafe. Analysis of mean differences showed that LGB students experienced more violence and felt less safe than non-LGB students; LGB staff felt less safe in school than non-LGB staff. When LGB students experienced more violence at school than non-LGB students, LGB students also felt less safe than non-LGB students for all 3 years. No such relationships existed for LGB staff, or between LGB staff and LGB students. No significant relationships were found between the four LGB school indicators and contextual school variables. The outcomes and uniqueness of the study are discussed. Recommendations are made to improve assessment and promote prosocial behavior of students and staff in schools.