News

Homophobia deters LGB people from working with children

1 min read Early Years Education
Lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) young people and staff still face high levels of homophobic bullying both inside and outside of school, a report by the government's equality watchdog has warned.

Many LGB people say they would avoid teaching or other jobs that involve working with children because of negative perceptions relating to their sexual orientation, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) study said.

Only 51 per cent of lesbians, 52 per cent of gay men, 44 per cent of bisexual women and 10 per cent of bisexual men felt they could be open about their sexual orientation in schools, colleges and universities.

In a speech to launch the report, Beyond Tolerance: Making Sexual Orientation a Public Matter, EHRC chair Trevor Phillips warned that "gay" remained "the number one playground insult".

The report calls for LGB issues to be included in the curriculum, "zero tolerance" for homophobic bullying and greater support for LGB staff and students. The EHRC said it is working on guidance for education providers to help them improve education outcomes for LGB pupils.

Register Now to Continue Reading

Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's Included

  • Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month

  • Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector

Register

Already have an account? Sign in here


More like this

Hertfordshire Youth Workers

“Opportunities in districts teams and countywide”

Administration Apprentice

SE1 7JY, London (Greater)