Mattea Citarella

LGBTQIA children and adolescents are already at a significantly increased risk of abuse and neglect. Forced disclosure not only creates the possibility of further harm from family members, but also prevents school staff from supporting students. For example, if a teen is in an abusive, same-gender or same-sex relationship, they may not seek support from school staff, knowing this staff would disclose their sexual orientation to their parents. Without confidentiality, these vulnerable students will lose access to essential support.