Subscribe to Breaking News
Loading ...Homophobia in schools remains major problem
10.08.2008 3:12pm EDT
(New York City) Nine in ten LGBT teens have been verbally harassed in the past school year, and almost half have been physically harassed because of their sexual orientation a new study shows.
In addition, about a third skipped a day of school in the past month because of feeling unsafe.The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network’s National School Climate Survey involved 6,209 LGBT students between the ages of 13 and 21 from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
GLSEN has conducted the survey biennially since 1999 and is the only national survey to document the experiences of students who identify as LGBT in America’s secondary schools.
The new survey found that three-quarters of LGBT teens hear slurs such as “faggot” or “dyke” frequently or often at school, and nine in 10 reports hearing anti-LGBT language frequently or often.
Homophobic remarks such as “that’s so gay” are the most commonly heard type of biased remarks at school. Research shows that these slurs are often unintentional and are a part of teens’ vernacular. Most do not recognize the consequences, but the casual use of this language often carries over into more overt harassment.
“The 2007 National School Climate Survey reveals that, on a whole, the situation is still dire for many LGBT youth when it comes to school safety,” GLSEN Executive Director Kevin Jennings said. “It’s hard to believe that anyone who reads this report could continue to turn the other way as our nation’s LGBT students are bullied and harassed at alarming rates. The good news is there’s hope. The 2007 National School Climate Survey also shows that when schools and educators take action, they can make a drastic difference.”
Students in schools with a Gay-Straight Alliance reported hearing fewer homophobic remarks, experienced less harassment and assault because of their sexual orientation and gender expression, the study found. In addition, these students were more likely to report incidents of harassment and assault to school staff, were less likely to feel unsafe because of their sexual orientation or gender expression, were less likely to miss school because of safety concerns and reported a greater sense of belonging to their school community.
Nevertheless, the study found only about a third of students had a Gay-Straight Alliance at school. The same number of students could identify six or more supportive educators and only a fifth attended a school that had a comprehensive safe school policy.
The survey was released in advance of National Coming Out Day on October 11, and Ally Week which begins on October 13.
GLSEN on Friday will launch the first national multimedia public service advertising campaign designed to address the use of anti-gay language among teens. It was undertaken with the Advertising Council and produced pro bono by ad agency ArnoldNYC.
The campaign includes television, radio, print, outdoor and Web advertising.
The TV ads feature scenarios in which the term “that’s so gay” is used casually in an effort to help teens recognize that their anti-LGBT language is harmful. The ads conclude with comedian Wanda Sykes in one TV spot, and actress Hilary Duff in another, urging teens to “knock it off.”
GLSEN said the campaign hopes to motivate teens to become allies in the efforts to raise awareness, stop using anti-LGBT language, and safely intervene when they are present and anti-LGBT harassment and behavior occurs.
“Every student has a right to feel safe in school free from bullying and harassment,” said Jennings.
“When students do not feel safe, they struggle to learn. This campaign will help educate young people about the harmful language many of them commonly use.”
The new ads are being distributed to approximately 33,000 media stations nationwide this week. Under the Ad Council’s donated media model, all of the new ads will air and run in advertising time and space donated by the media. Media companies, including MTV (which through its Logo channel owns 365gay.com), have made early commitments to support the campaign.
Did you hear about the San Diego community colleges who want to call their LGBT organizations the Foundation of Associated Gay Students, or FAGS? Check the San Diego Union-Tribune’s website for the article (it ran Wed. Oct.
And this is what happens when those same bullies grow up and enter the work force, (often to the tune of at least 30K+ a year) even at a NY State Agency:
“Incident Findings:
While I find Stephen to be very credible, we were unable to independently verify that any of the employees identified, Matt C——, B— L——- or Jason W——, made the comment about not getting on the elevator “with that fag”. Other than B—-, it is unclear whether Jason W—– or Matt C—– know Stephen or have an opinion about his sexuality. All of these employees admitted that they went down to the lobby on Friday afternoon to get a soda about the time Stephen indicates he saw them coming through the security turnstile behind him. Further, Matt, Jason and B—- admitted to using the term “gay” in their banter with each other. Jason indicated that the term “fag” may have also been used in their joking and bantering. However, all individuals were adamant that they never directed the term toward any individual or intended to offend anyone. They all appeared surprised and concerned that their comments may have been overheard by and offended someone, although they recognized that that was a possibility as Jason noted that his voice carries. I find their statements that they did not direct their comments toward any specific individual to be credible, finding their behavior to be immature, rather than harassing. Therefore, I do not believe that their conduct rises to the level of creating a hostile and intimidating work environment. Their conduct is, however, inappropriate in the workplace and, if continued, could create a hostile work environment I had requested Nick V———— to speak to his staff after the last incident was reported by Stephen to his supervisor to remind them about the use of language, comments and terms that might be offensive to others in the workplace. Unfortunately, Nick did not speak to his staff or the latest incident might have been avoided. Also, it appears that, once made aware, these employees will be more aware of and circumspect in their conversations and comments.
Recommendation:
I do not believe that discipline is warranted at this time. However, it appears that all these employees, Matt C—–, Jason W—— and B— need to be reminded of appropriate conduct in the workplace. I recommend that they be required to meet with me and Nick V———- to go over the Department’s harassment policy to remind them of appropriate conduct in the workplace and the types of behavior that can be considered offensive to others.
I would also remind them that retaliation is unlawful. Finally, I will determine whether Stephen would like to sit down with them as they have expressed an interest in apologizing to Stephen and I would like to see Stephen comfortable again in this environment as he is a valued employee.”
I know that in Texas we’re REALLY slow, but I find this article rather disturbing.
I have fostered 16 kids over the past six years — a lot of them in middle or high school. I found that the atmosphere in the area that I’m in (Houston) was over-the-top accepting of the children’s sexuality.
As a parent it kind of bothered me because I don’t think that they should be having sex with ANYONE (of their own sex or any other sex for that matter) at the age that they are.
I can’t believe that this liberal old lesbian parent has become so old-school. I have always told my children this one thing: “I don’t care if you like girls, guys or goats, you’re not allowed to have sex with any of them until you’ve matured mentally.”
Being gay seems to have become the fashion here in our area. I know that with the teenage years comes the exploration into sex and sexuality, but I do not believe that there is a single adult among us who believes that what they believed was best for them in high school is the same as what they now know what would have been best for them now.
Being gay is an acceptance of who you are on the inside. I see far too many children who are being “gay” just to push the envelope and rebel. I do not believe that ANY child should have to undergo harassment. No one should be allowed to tell another what religion to be, what language to speak, what person to fall in love with, what size jeans to wear, what color their hair should be or anything else.
School officials should give up their cloaks of righteousness and begin to show the courage to stand up to the parents who are truly behind this behavior. Separation of church and state my toosh. There is none these days.
Children should be taught to be loving, accepting and tolerant or they will not make it in the world that they will grow in to when they mature. It is up to the adults to teach these lessons. It is also up to the parents to teach their children that their bodies are important and should be a treasure that they give only when they have the maturity to handle the outcomes of what they do with it.
Sorry to rant, I was a VERY promiscuous teenager. I gave myself to others because I was seeking love. I didn’t realize until years later what the giving up of my body was doing to my psyche. I wish for all teenagers the wisdom to believe in themselves to the extent that they no longer feel the need to be accepted by anyone else.
Kelli Lowery
The problem further aggravated by school administrator and teachers who refuse to enforce proper language rules. In South Florida, we have had teacher sensetivity groups to learn how harmful these remarks are to their students. With the new attitudes towards being gay now developing among educated people, teachers feel less intimidated in establishing proper standards of conduct toward gay students in their schools.
I have seen the ads…they will knock everyones’ socks off (I hope). Keep your eyes peeled for them!
Now maybe everyone can understand why major cities have gay high schools, etc. For the protection of thses kids. Should they be ridiculed, bashed, just like blacks before? It always go back to “religion.” Others claim this/that from the Bible, Christ never bashed, ridiculed those who are different!
They’re should be a compulsory guidance class where students learn how to treat minorities,and be shown its wrong to discriminate.The teachers should let it be know that bullying against gays or anyone will lead one to be expelled.Camera’s,security,whatever it takes to get the message across{were here,we’re queer,and we want equal treatment and rights.
Back when I was in high school, I spent an entire year saying “That’s so straight”.
Though now-a-days, I’ve slipped into using “that’s so gay”. My roommates, too, and we’re all about as lesbian as they come.
That’s not to say that that sort of language is appropriate in schools, though. WHEN are the school going to get their lazy asses in gear and adopt a zero-tolerance for bullying policy???