Should I Stay or Should I Go: Enrollment Patterns of LGB Students Across Educational Sectors

• In Event: 2484 - Section on Sociology of Education Refereed Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 07. Gender and Sexualities in Education

Abstract

National data from the Cardus Education Survey and the Relationships in America Survey were used to assess the high school attendance patterns of LGB students in comparison to their heterosexual peers. We explain sector retention or transfer of LGB students in terms of minority stress. Students who had more negative experiences in a particular sector would be more likely to opt out during their transition to secondary school. Findings reveal that the homeschool and nonreligious private school sectors have a significantly higher proportion of sexual minorities in comparison to the public school sector. Homeschools retained the greatest proportion of sexual minorities, whereas nonreligious private school were most likely to receive LGB adolescents that opted out of their primary school sector.

Authors

• Christopher Quiroz, University of Notre Dame

• David Sikkink, University of Notre Dame