Safe Zone
Safe Zone provides support and resources for LGBTQ students and their families.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students face many barriers that can prevent them from feeling safe within their school environment including verbal and physical harassment and bullying. These students are at increased risk of homelessness and self-destructive behaviors which often result in attendance issues and higher drop-out rates.
Do you have questions about Safe Zone? Contact Safe Zone Team at AskSafeZone@aps.edu
Disclaimer: This email is monitored daily by the Student Health and Life Skills department. If needed, the Student Health and Life Skills department may contact other APS departments for support to provide correct information to the sender.
What is Safe Zone?
The Albuquerque Public Schools Safe Zone was designed to support LGBT students but is available to any other student as well. Every middle and high school designates at least one staff member as a "safe adult" that students can go to if they need to report harassment and need help. Safe Zone Volunteers identify their office or classroom by hanging a SAFE ZONE sign so that students can easily identify them.
Safe Zone Volunteers attend 1-2 district meetings per year for professional development, resource sharing and networking. Safe Zone Volunteers and other school staff may choose to sponsor Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) clubs, support groups or lunch groups to create safe spaces for students.
The Trevor Project
Founded in 1998 by the creators of the Academy Award®-winning short film TREVOR, The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24.
Need Resources?
- PFLAG Albuquerque
Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) has an Albuquerque chapter dedicated to empowering lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and transsexual persons -- and those who love them -- through outreach, personal support, and education. (Contact PFLAG Albuquerque at 873-7373.) - ACLU Youth & Schools Work
The ACLU Youth and Schools are working to make public schools safe and bias-free for LGBT students, defending their free speech in school, and working to help students start gay-straight alliance clubs. - The Human Rights Campaign
HRC is the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization. - Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network
GLSEN strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. - Welcoming Schools-A Project of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation
Appropriate for administrators, educators and parents/guardians. A terrific website with helpful handouts (such as what do you say to "that's so gay"), professional development tools and lesson plans (aligned with Common Core Standards) for elementary school - Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico
Dedicated to serving the transgender community of the State of New Mexico by providing personal support, education and resource information. Contact Adrien Lawyer at 440-3402. - Life as a Transgender College Student: Finding Support, Resources, and Inclusive Schools
- GLSEN 2017 National School Climate Survey