Traditional Schools, the Juvenile Justice System, and the Experiences of LGBTQ/Gender-Nonconforming (GNC)-Identified Individuals

• In Event: Trans, Queer, and Nonbinary Students' Experiences With Schooling

Abstract

Research shows that LGBTQ and gender nonconforming (GNC) youth are overrepresented in the "school-to-prison pipeline"—punitive disciplinary practices that can lead to involvement with the criminal justice system. Learning from the narratives of LGBTQ/GNC individuals who were incarcerated as juveniles about their experiences in traditional high schools can help educators address this problem. This study captures the personal testimonies of participants who identify as LGBTQ/GNC and were incarcerated in their youth. I found that rigid power dynamics between students and staff, the involvement of law enforcement in school discipline, and a lack of responsiveness from schools to LGBTQ/GNC students can contribute to the implication of LGBTQ/GNC youth in the juvenile justice system in direct and indirect ways.

Author

• Nicole M Sanfilippo, San Francisco Unified School District