“Am I safe here?” LGBTQ students ask this question every day within the school system. In this timely book, Donn Short treats students as the experts, asking them to shine a light on the marginalization and bullying faced by LGBTQ youth. They identify what makes a school safe – insightfully explaining that safety doesn’t come merely from security cameras and dress codes, but from a culture that values equity and social justice. The students reveal the reality of going to school in an environment that implicitly endorses homophobia, heterosexism, and heteronormativity, sharing their ideas about how to change school culture. They envision a future in which LGBTQ youth are an expected, respected, and celebrated part of school life.

Am I Safe Here? offers a path to creating equitable and inclusive schools, drawing on the spontaneous and relevant words of LGBTQ students to show that nothing less than a total culture change is needed.

Donn Short's profile page

Donn Short is an associate professor of law at Robson Hall, Faculty of Law, at the University of Manitoba. In addition to his scholarship dealing with bullying and safe schools, he has written a number of dramatic works dealing with themes of youth and youth violence. He is the founder of Outlaws, the queer law student association at Robson Hall, and the founding editor-in-chief of the Canadian Journal of Human Rights. Dr. Short is the author of Don’t Be So Gay! and co-author of The Every Teacher Project, published by the Manitoba Teachers’ Society. He is a member of the education committee of Egale Canada Human Rights Trust and was appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor for Manitoba to the Manitoba Human Rights Board of Commissioners.