Gay Friendly Private Schools?

[Anonymous]

My partner and I have a son who will be entering K in 2009-2010. We are beginning to survey the private school scene in the DC area. We know a number of similarly situated families at GDS. We will certainly apply there, but want to expand our search to include many of the other schools often mentioned here. So, any feedback on the reaction we might get from staff and families at places like Sidwell, Beauvoir, Maret, etc. would be appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Maret School had a table at the Rainbow Families DC Conference a couple of weeks ago. Each fall they host an LGBT family gathering for LGBT families that may have questions about the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maret School had a table at the Rainbow Families DC Conference a couple of weeks ago. Each fall they host an LGBT family gathering for LGBT families that may have questions about the school.

How wonderful. Were Sidwell and Beauvoir/NCS/STA also there?

[Anonymous]

Beauvoir, GDS, Washington Waldorf and Green Acres were the schools, besides Maret, that I remember seeing there.

[Anonymous]

I know that St. Patrick's has welcomed families such as yours.

[Anonymous]

Likewise Burgundy.

[Anonymous]

My family just went through applying for LGBT-friendly private schools recently. While many schools say they are welcoming, and they are, they are all very different in what they offer. My advice is to take as many tours as you can, meet other LGBT families, ask questions that are important to you (ie. any gay faculty? handling bullying?) and get a feel for the school on this particular level. For instance, we thought that in addition to GDS, another one of "the big three" might be a good choice for our family, but after the tour at that school we didn't even end up applying. Some schools want to be more LGBT active, and put out literature and set up tables at events, but you might be the first or only LGBT family and that could cut various ways. In our current school we're the only two-mom family. The school is "welcoming" on paper, but there's nothing in place for diversity celebration, education of teachers, or the inclusive language we wish the school would use. Let's just say, we "broke-in" a few teachers. We've helped form some guidelines and policies for the school, but it's recently become hard on our child to be the only one in the school with two moms. We opted for a school with a more solid track record and proven dedication. Personal preferences, of course, but the tours helped us---also the LGBT family open houses/info. sessions that many schools offer. good luck.

[Anonymous]

"In our current school we're the only two-mom family.... but it's recently become hard on our child to be the only one in the school with two moms. We opted for a school with a more solid track record and proven dedication."

Did you switch schools?
Sorry, the post is not clear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My family just went through applying for LGBT-friendly private schools recently. While many schools say they are welcoming, and they are, they are all very different in what they offer. My advice is to take as many tours as you can, meet other LGBT families, ask questions that are important to you (ie. any gay faculty? handling bullying?) and get a feel for the school on this particular level. For instance, we thought that in addition to GDS, another one of "the big three" might be a good choice for our family, but after the tour at that school we didn't even end up applying. Some schools want to be more LGBT active, and put out literature and set up tables at events, but you might be the first or only LGBT family and that could cut various ways. In our current school we're the only two-mom family. The school is "welcoming" on paper, but there's nothing in place for diversity celebration, education of teachers, or the inclusive language we wish the school would use. Let's just say, we "broke-in" a few teachers. We've helped form some guidelines and policies for the school, but it's recently become hard on our child to be the only one in the school with two moms. We opted for a school with a more solid track record and proven dedication. Personal preferences, of course, but the tours helped us---also the LGBT family open houses/info. sessions that many schools offer. good luck.

As a mother of a dd who has two moms and who will be applying to private schools in the near future, I would greatly appreciate it if you would name names relevant to your post. Thanks so much.

[Anonymous]

I know the commitment to LGBT families at GDS is very high - I can't speak to what their track record actually is, but it is an issue that the faculty thinks about quite a bit. (My husband is a lower school teacher.)

They are one of the few schools in the country to celebrate Gay Pride Week/Day at *every grade level.* In the lower grades it is more "free to be you and me." There are openly gay teachers and staff at both the upper and lower schools and they speak openly at both upper and lower school assemblies.

[Anonymous]

My child is in Sidwell's Lower School - I know of at least three 2 mom families and they seem well accepted in our community.

[Anonymous]

Lowell is very gay/lesbian friendly.

[Anonymous]

What about STA/NCS? I simply can't believe those Episcopal Catholics in Disguise would be at all welcoming to such families.

[Anonymous]

That is so offensive. I am Episcopalian and I do not consider myself to be a "Catholic in Disguise". My husband is Catholic and I think we have some fairly different religious views. The Episcopal church in America was recently in jeopardy of being ejected from the global Anglican Communion because they elected an openly gay Bishop and they regularly ordain gay priests (men/women).

[Anonymous]

Sheridan School is another school I would recommend looking at. (My daughter goes there) It's a small, progressive school and it is very open and welcoming. It is a K-8 school, and most of the students graduate to go on to GDS, Maret, Field etc. There are already several families in the school that have same gender parents. They only have just over 200 students, so when you look at the percentage of the population that comes from LBGT families, it might actually be higher there than some of the other larger schools. I don't know the total number of faculty there, but I know there is at least one openly gay teacher. The faculty and staff are all very involved there, and they are incredibly helpful. Whenever there is any kind of social problem, like bullying etc, the teachers address it right away. I don't have other children, so I can't personally compare it to other private schools in the area, but I have friends with children at the big schools. My general level of satisfaction with the community, teachers, other parents and students is quite high. I don't ever feel like my child, or my family, is just a number. I think that there is more of a "personal touch" to things there.