Homophobic bullying affects all pupils
Ben Cook
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Homophobic bullying in schools has a negative impact on straight young people as well as those who are lesbian, gay or bisexual, according to new research.
A survey carried out by youth charity Independent Academic Research Studies found the effects of homophobic bullying on straight young people were often "less obvious" than the effects on those who are lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB).
More than a quarter (27 per cent) of respondents who identified themselves as heterosexual said there was "a negative attitude towards sexuality in their school". Half of the straight respondents who held this view said such attitudes "impacted on their personal development".
One-fifth of the heterosexual respondents said they had been treated with "less fairness, respect, equality and dignity because of their actual or perceived sexuality". The report added: "This illustrates that the 'straight' respondents were not only sensitive to and aware of the negativity in their schools, but it directly affected and impacted on how they chose to develop themselves. Homophobic bullying is therefore not solely an LGB issue and should not be tackled in isolation."
A total of 70 young people who had experienced homophobic bullying were questioned in the survey. The research was conducted and managed by young people aged 16 to 25. The study also found 70 per cent of respondents agreed that LGB young people are treated with less fairness and respect and 43 per cent felt that LGB people were treated with less respect due to a "negative attitude in their school towards sexuality".
The report, Homophobic Bullying and Human Rights: Shared Values for a Shared Problem, also said that punishing young people for expressing intolerant views towards others without an attempt to generate understanding does little to "promote cohesion" between young people.
"Furthermore, when incidents of bullying occur, it is often a teacher who decides on the action to be taken, rather than the young people involved. Youth-led policy creation and peer mediation should therefore be encouraged," the report said.
Emma-Jane Cross, chief executive of Beatbullying, said: "The use of anti-gay rhetoric has a negative impact on all young people, regardless of their sexuality."
www.cypnow.co.uk/doc.
