UIC College of Education recognized for support of LGBTQ youth

The Illinois Safe Schools Alliance has named the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Education its Ally of the Year.  The award recognizes research, advocacy, education and organizing that promotes the well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth.

Stacy Horn (upper right) with doctoral students on the Safe Spaces committee, a collaboration between UIC and the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance. (Click on image for larger file.)

The college has collaborated with the alliance to obtain more than $2 million in grants for research and practice related to safe schools and the healthy development of LGBTQ youth, said Stacey Horn, professor of educational psychology.

Horn served on a statewide task force that made recommendations to the Illinois legislature for an anti- bullying law that passed in 2010.

“We’ve co-presented at numerous academic and professional conferences and at professional development trainings for practitioners,” Horn said. “We’ve co-authored articles and book chapters with experts from the alliance.  Current and past courageous leaders in the college work every day to ensure that all students can learn in environments free from harassment, bullying and discrimination.”

Loren Savage, development and operations director of the alliance, wrote in his announcement: “This cutting-edge research collaboration has led to new approaches in discussing anti-LGBTQ language with youth, helped to change schools’ perceptions of parental roles in LGBTQ safe schools issues, and created a narrative depicting the ways young people are impacted by school discipline.”

Horn and other representatives of the college will accept the award at the alliance’s annual gathering Oct. 5 at the Chicago Cultural Center.