Educator Intervention Concerning Sexual and Gender Minority Youth in the Czech Republic

Abstract

A national sample of 114 educators working in secondary schools in the Czech Republic participated in a mixed research online survey study. The study was conducted to assess educators’ responses to situations concerning actual and perceived sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. Educators’ responses included intervening when witnessing homo/trans-negativity as well as facilitating discussions with students in the classroom when these incidences occurred. Regression models indicated that these SGM advocacy responses (intervention and discussion) were significantly related to educators’ levels of self-efficacy. Having classroom discussions with students about incidences of SGM bullying were also found to relate to having training regarding SGM topics and feeling negative about students using homo/trans-negative slurs. Our findings suggest that training on SGM topics should be offered to educators in the Czech Republic to increase the likelihood that they follow up homo-/trans-negative language and behavior with discussions. Training regarding the latter should include reflection over the impact of one’s attitudes on their SGM advocacy behaviors. Lastly, future studies should include other educators besides teachers such as school counselors and school psychologists who are also uniquely positioned to advocate for SGM youth in Czech schools.