By Vanessa de la Torrecontact the reporter

Hartford school principals to be trained on LGBT issues

HARTFORD — School principals in the city will receive mandatory training next academic year on how to create a more inclusive environment for students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, district officials and legal advocates said.

The training, in partnership with legal groups that represent LGBT students and their families, will include an overview on anti-discrimination laws, proper terminology and how to navigate personal views on homosexuality, for instance, while abiding by professional obligations to protect students.

Central office administrators will also be trained on LGBT issues in August as part of the district's professional development for the 2015-16 year. The nonprofit True Colors will lead the instruction, said David Medina, a schools spokesman.

Advocates on Tuesday did not cite a specific incident that prompted the training, but said more LGBT awareness was needed and credited the school system for being "proactive."

"We'd heard from people that ... the district could do better by these students, and we thought the district might be open to that," said Vickie Henry, youth initiative director for the Boston-based Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders. "And we were right."

In a statement, Superintendent Beth Schiavino-Narvaez said "providing a welcoming environment for all students is central to my stated goal of achieving educational excellence throughout the school system — no exceptions."

Giovanna Shay, litigation and advocacy director for Greater Hartford Legal Aid, said the organization has clients who have raised the issue of LGBT tolerance, although she declined to get into details.

"Parents want their families to be respected and they want schools to be safe, and this is one part of that," Shay said. "Training for those folks is important because they're the leaders and they help to set a tone."

In 2011, a glittery musical presented at Hartford Public High School as part of an anti-bullying initiative drew national attention because of the reaction among students who witnessed a brief same-sex kiss.

After two male actors shared a peck on stage, there were shrieks and shouts and dozens of teenagers who stormed out of the auditorium, including a few wearing their school football jerseys.

At the time, the principal of the school's Law and Government Academy, who was a supporter of the Gay-Straight Alliance, said some students had jokingly nicknamed his academy the "lesbian and gay academy."

Advocacy groups reached out to Hartford schools several months ago about the training, said Henry, who advises other districts to follow the lead. At a minimum, she said, administrators can consider the legal liability if anti-discrimination laws are violated.

"For one, I think it's the right thing to do — students really need support," Henry said. "But part of the mission of schools is to educate, and so making sure the educators are educated seems like a wise move."

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