In the wake of the tragic death of Lawrence King, who was shot and killed in a California school on February 12 because of his sexual orientation and gender expression, the need to address anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) bulling and harassment in schools is as apparent as ever.

So what can students do?

Perhaps the most effective way to bring about change in your school is to join a Gay-Straight Alliance. More than 3,800 GSAs are registered with GLSEN. To find out if your school has one, ask around or visit www.studentorganizing.org to find a GSA in your area. GSAs are an effective way to spread tolerance and hope. To check out GLSEN's research brief on the benefits of GSAs, click here.

GLSEN also has a fantastic resource on how to start a GSA and what to do once your school has one. It's  called the Jump-Start Guide. Check it out by clicking here.

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As communities across the country hold vigils in memory of Lawrence King, a 15-year-old from California whom classmates say was killed because of his sexual orientation and gender expression, GLSEN is calling on schools to honor King’s memory by using this as an opportunity to address violence and harassment directed at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students.

“While we are all still numb to the reality of this horrible tragedy, it is important that we begin to look at ways we can make sure something like this never happens again,” said GLSEN Executive Director Kevin Jennings. “Schools can take steps to ensure that all their students are safer, regardless of sexual orientation or gender expression/ identity.”

GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, recommends four approaches that schools can begin implementing now to address anti-LGBT bullying and harassment.

Ten years after college student Matthew Shepard was brutally killed because of his sexual orientation, anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) violence has spread to middle schools. 15-year-old Lawrence King was shot and killed in California last week by a 14-year-old eighth-grader who classmates said had been bullying Lawrence because of his sexual orientation and gender expression. The attacker was charged with a hate crime.

Anti-LGBT bullying and harassment is still the norm in school. Nearly two-thirds of LGBT students (64.3%) feel unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation and two-fifths (40.7%) because of their gender expression, according to GLSEN's 2005 National School Climate Survery. "Faggot" and "Dyke" are still common insults, and "That's so gay" has become an accepted form of expression.

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