What Happens When Schools Force LGBTQ+ Children Out of the Closet

By Judy Bokao

Over the years, we have seen and spoken extensively on why it is wrong to publicly out celebrities. However, we rarely discuss how this is also happening to many young LGBTQ+ youths in American schools.

Recently, the United States has witnessed a massive increase in legislative efforts targeting the LGBTQ+ community, especially transgender youth. This legislation often forces schools, government or public employees to notify families about the gender identity or sexual orientation of their child. For instance, some states require schools and staff to inform families of any suspicions about a student’s LGBTQ+ status with or without the student’s consent. In other states, the laws promote the need to out queer individuals through vague requirements to notify the parents about any health or behavior concerns leaving room for individual interpretation that might be used to target LGBTQ+ or transgender youths. In the complicated landscape of the acceptance of LGBTQ+ rights, forced outing is one of the most dangerous threats to an individual’s safety and well-being. Forcing a queer person to reveal their gender identity or sexual orientation against their will, through blackmail, manipulation, either coercion, or absolute malice, can have detrimental consequences, particularly for school-going LGBTQ+ youth in the United States.

First, forced outing violates an individual’s right to personal autonomy and self-determination. Therefore, forcing an individual to come out against their will denies them the opportunity to control how, when, and to whom they disclose their LGBTQ+ identity. Moreover, society is still laden with discrimination and stigma against the LGBTQ+ community and forced outing exposes these youths to harassment, prejudice, bullying, and even violence from their peers, the school administration, and even the community.

In the context of the American school system, the school environment is a hostile and unsafe place for vulnerable students. Forced outing amplifies the fears of LGBTQ+ students, creating a stressful learning environment for them, which affects their academic performance. Consequently, the fear deters these students from seeking mental health support from school counsellors or administrators, and they become further isolated and deprived of significant assistance and resources.

The mental health implications of forced outing cannot be overstated, especially for young people navigating an already turbulent terrain of adolescence and young adulthood. Forcibly outing a queer person exacerbates their feeling of shame, betrayal, and isolation. The fear of rejection from their family and friends increases their confusion in addition to health and safety risks from internalized transphobia, biphobia, or homophobia.

Therefore, forced outing leads to the development of emerging mental health issues and increase the effects of existing ones. Reports indicate that LGBTQ+ youths who go through forced outing suffer from increased depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. In many cases, their sexual orientation or gender identity is weaponized against them, leading to long-lasting psychological effects that undermine their feeling of resilience and self-worth.

Given the detrimental effects of forced outing, policies and regulations must be put in place to protect LGBTQ+ youths from unauthorized or coerced exposure of their gender identity or sexual orientation. The process requires a multifaceted approach that includes legal protection, sensitization of the community, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights. For instance, schools and other public institutions should provide training on empathy and allyship to foster a culture of mutual respect and understanding. Such initiatives encompass counseling services, support services, and safe spaces for the students to express themselves without fear of retaliation.

Moreover, schools should implement comprehensive anti-bullying and anti-discrimination policies that explicitly address the concerns of the LGBTQ+ community. Most importantly, the LGBTQ+ community should be empowered to advocate for their right to dignity by amplifying their voices because every individual should live free and true without fear of being marginalized because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

There was once a time when America was known as the land of the free to many, but for LGBTQ+ youth that is no longer the case. Young LGBTQ+ youths are constantly getting their rights violated, they can barely be themselves. These legal attacks are leading to more problems than solutions. The fact that one can be legally outed is outrageous. As a society, we need to learn to protect people’s privacy and give everyone time and space to be themselves.

About the Author

Judy Bokao is 20 years old and was born in Ethiopia but relocated to Nairobi two years ago. She is passionate about everyone having equal rights and is also big on conservation and speaking up for our planet. Judy loves reading and photography and is just a free-spirited young lady trying to grow into a woman her mom can be proud of.