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."
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