“Don’t Be So Gay!” Queers, Bullying, and Making School Safe

Many Canadians may pride themselves on the country’s supposedly tolerant society, but as University of Manitoba law professor Short demonstrates, this tolerance is often withheld from Canada’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transsexual teens, such that even simple physical safety is not guaranteed. Here, the author looks at the scope of the problem, how schools currently approach it, issues complicating the implementation of humane rules that include official indifference or outright complicity, and teenaged social conformity. He then delves into possible future courses of action. The book is informed by interviews with queer teens in the Toronto area, as well as interviews with the handful of administrative idealists scattered through the educational system. Conditions for queer teens may be better than they were two generations ago, but they cannot be said to be good, save in highly atypical refuges; that said, progress is possible, Short argues. Although technical jargon does appear, Short’s prose is mostly clear and effective; the book’s organization is logical and straightforward, with lengthy endnotes and a lavish index. Administrators hoping for more queer-friendly schools will benefit from this book. (Jan.)