Articles
Bullying nightmare for LGB pupils
Shocking new research conducted by equal rights charity Stonewall has discovered that homophobic bullying is “a daily nightmare” for more than half of those pupils who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual. The research, which was carried out by the University of Cambridge for the organisation’s new School Report 2012, found that 55% of LGB pupils in British secondary schools experience homophobic bullying. The results of the report were announced at Stonewall’s Education for All conference, which took place in London today (5 July).
The research, based on a national survey of 1,614 young people, also found that nearly a quarter (23 per cent) of gay young people have attempted to take their own life, and more than half (56 per cent) deliberately harm themselves.The report also reveals that 99% of gay young people routinely hear homophobic language, such as ‘that’s so gay’ or ‘you’re so gay’. Worrying, a quarter of those questioned said that teachers do not challenge the use of such language (rising to a third of respondents in faith schools).
Stonewall Chief Executive Ben Summerskill said: “It’s unacceptable that over half of gay young people face a daily nightmare of homophobic bullying, and deeply worrying that many schools and teachers still fail to challenge it effectively. Thankfully Stonewall’s years of work with thousands of schools and local authorities has reduced the overall level of homophobic bullying significantly. But we won’t rest until every single gay young person in this country can walk through their school gates every morning without fear of being bullied just because of the way they were born.”
Stonewall’s School Report 2012 is an update on a similar report by the organization published in 2007. That found that nearly two thirds of young people were being homophobically bullied. Homophobic language remains as prevalent today as it was in 2007, although twice as many young people today report their schools say homophobic bullying is wrong (50 per cent, up from 25 per cent in 2007).
The School Report 2012 can be downloaded at www.stonewall.org.uk/schoolreport2012
Posted: 5 July
