Somewhere under the rainbow: LGBTQ youth and school climate in Portugal

Abstract

This article presents a narrative review about the situation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) youths in Portuguese schools. The Portuguese context and social climate towards LGBTQ people were presented and a review of existing legislation, policies and interventions focusing on LGBTQ youth was conducted. Results from social science research with this population were examined and complemented with data from a recent survey. Pervasiveness of prejudice and discrimination and the concurrent need to manage the visibility of LGBTQ identities both in school context and in the family were confirmed. Support from school is not always guaranteed, and evidence of anti-bullying policies that explicitly mention sexual orientation and gender identity is still scarce. Some implications for future practice and research are drawn.