Abstract
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) community is a minority group that is often underserved and overlooked. In the state of Missouri, LGBTQ specific services and resources are difficult to access; this is especially true for LGBTQ people living in more rural areas of the state. Schools are a place where all students should feel included and safe to be who they are. This Banded Dissertation expanded on the resources available in Missouri for the LGBTQ community and what can be done to fill these service gaps especially in school settings. The first product titled, Serving Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Students in School, offers a conceptual model to best serve LGBTQ students to ensure all students feel safe and included. The second product, titled Missouri Case Study: Focusing on the Services and Needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) People, explores the LGBTQ specific services for LGBTQ people in Missouri. The final product is a poster presentation titled, LGBTQ Students in Public Schools-How Can We Help?, which presents the conceptual model for active inclusion in the public forum.