First conducted in 1999, the National School Climate Survey is the largest national survey on the experiences of LGBT youth in schools. Released in partnership with MTV, it examines the prevalence of school-based harassment and victimization, the frequency with which students hear homophobic language, and the factors that contribute to or detract from an overall feeling of comfort or safety.

In 2001, GLSEN nearly doubled the size of the sample from the original survey. This year, a total of 904 LGBT students from 48 states and the District of Columbia completed the survey. Respondents were accessed through community based organizations that provide services to LGBT students, as well as through online technologies.

The results confirm that for many of our nation's LGBT students, school can be an unsafe or even dangerous place. School is where homophobic remarks can be frequently heard, sometimes by faculty or staff. The majority of the youth reported being verbally harassed, and a large number reported sexual harassment, physical harassment or physical assault. The findings of this survey demonstrate that transgender students feel particularly vulnerable at school.