Young People And Homophobia

By Ellie and Max- members of Freedom Youth

Some Statistics- from Stonewall’s ‘school report’

7 in 10 gay pupils have never been taught about lesbian/gay people or issues.

65% of young lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils have experienced direct bullying.

75% of young gay people attending faith schools have experienced homophobic bullying.

98% of young gay people hear the phrases ‘that’s so gay’ or ‘you’re so gay’ in school.

97% of pupils hear other insulting remarks such as ‘poof’, ‘dyke’, ‘queer’ and ‘bender’.

Consequences of this…

7 in 10 gay pupils experiencing homophobic bullying say it has had an effect on their school work.

HALF of those who’ve experienced homophobic bullying have truanted from school at some point.

OVER 60% of young lesbian/gay people feel there is no-one at home or at school they can talk to about being gay.

4 in 5 young gay people do not have access to resources that can help them at school.

Institutionalised homophobia Negative attachments

ToHomosexuality

Adopted by popular Culture and passedAround in schools

Used by someparents

Accepted largelyBy

society

Used by someteachers

Rarely Contested

Used by pupils

Often ignored

by teachers

Ways we feel it could be combated…

All teachers should receive specialised training around LGBT issues and how to challenge homophobia, this includes being able to respond and support pupils who feel they are LGBT.

There should be specific rules in place within schools to deal with homophobic bullying and homophobic bullying should be included and part of all bullying policies- this includes recording any homophobic incidents.

The concept of LGBT issues should be introduced and accepted at primary education level in order to raise awareness.

All schools should be encouraged to engage in LGBT History Month.

Schools should have available relevant resources around LGBT issues that are readily

available to pupils.

There should be compulsory LGBT sexual health and

relationships education alongside current SRE.

More awareness training should be offered to faith groups that harbour homophobic and transphobic views to promote tolerance and equality.

There should be a timeline of action introduced for Bristol Schools to ensure changes are being carried

out and acted upon.

There should be policies introduced to recognise transgendered young people and help deal with the

widespread transphobia and ignorance of transgender issues.

Quote from current schools minister ‘Kevin Brennan’ MP to School’s Out at a recent LGBT History Month conference-

“I want homophobia to become taboo… from the flippant use of homophobic language to the deliberate bullying of people because they’re gay or ‘different’. Both are wrong, both need to stop.

And when we say that ‘every child matters’, we mean that every young person- straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, black, white, disabled- boy or girl matters”