State Board of Ed. president urges support for LGBT students

(AP) — Michigan's Board of Education president has told policy makers and educators in Dearborn that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students should be acknowledged and embraced in school to help improve learning and life outcomes.

Austin said research shows that "absent a school environment that welcomes and supports them, Michigan school children who say they are lesbian, gay or bisexual -- and the as yet uncounted but growing number of transgender students -- won't get the education they too deserve."