Gay pupils 'receive death threats' - do we allow the bigots to rule?

Question

Around 150,000 gay pupils have been targeted by school bullies with some even receiving death threats, a survey has found.

(Advertisement)
Equality organisation Stonewall said two-thirds of lesbian and gay pupils have experienced homophobic bullying, ranging from verbal abuse to violence with some pupils claiming that their teachers even joined in with the abuse.

The study of 1,145 gay, lesbian and bisexual young people found that 41 per cent had experienced physical abuse, 17 per cent had received death threats and 12 per cent had been sexually assaulted.

And the study claimed around 50 per cent of teachers failed to intervene when children used homophobic language like "dyke" or "queer".

Stonewall chief executive Ben Summerskill said the figures suggested about 156,000 pupils had suffered homophobic bullying in Britain's schools.

He continued: "These deeply disturbing figures should serve as a wake-up call to everyone working in education. This is a damning legacy of Section 28, which deterred schools from tackling anti-gay bullying for so long."

Mr Summerskill added: "This remains one of the few sorts of bullying about which too many schools still take no action. It blights the lives not just of gay children but of thousands of pupils perceived to be lesbian or gay too."

Almost all the pupils surveyed said they heard derogatory phrases in school, such as "poof", or "that's so gay", the report said.

Stonewall said three-quarters of gay pupils in faith schools were bullied over their sexuality while around 70 per cent of victims said homophobic bullying affected their school work.

A Department for Education spokesman said: "All forms of bullying are unacceptable. We are pleased that Stonewall have highlighted this important issue and we look forward to continuing to work with them in the future.

"It is important that pupils tell someone when they are being bullied and that teachers take firm action. That is why we have given new powers to teachers to ensure they can do so. No pupil should suffer the torment of bullying."

Answer 1

I think it is ridiculous! For some reason society has brought themselves to believe that they are better than others and that they have right to judge and condem people of the opposite sex!
If we dont put a stop to it now our chidrens children will actually carry these death threats through! What kind of society is that?

Steven C! It is ok to voice or show disgust to the thought of anal sex etc (within reason) but to physically, mentally and emotionally abuse someone cannot be justified! This is were we are going wrong! We may not agree on certain behaviour but everyone has the right to live their life as they chose within reason!

Answer 2

I find bullying as sickening as the next person.

However, I also think we live in an overprotective society where no-one can express an inpolitcally correct view.

There has to be a balance.

Death threats and assault are obviously something which requires action, but on the other hand a little bit of leg pulling is something that kids do, and it does 'teach' the recipient a skill set that can be useful later on in life i.e. they set up defence mechanisms which can be utilised in other situations, and defence mechanisms are needed. Some situations are a lot more sinister than a bit of teasing.

On the other hand there are some children who are particularly sensitive to any sort of teasing and teachers have a duty to look out for the vulnerable one's to offer support.

At the end of the day though, teachers are only human, and you cannot blanket legislate for every situation. What constitutes bullying for one person doesn't necessarily constitute bullying for everyone.

I used to get ribbed alot coz I had ginger hair when I was a kid and I got called names and made the butt of many a joke. Most of the time it didn't bother me coz I'd just find something about the person giving it out and then give it them back.

The only time it bothered me was when it was accompanied by aggression.

So you cannot do a survey and draw absolute conclusions from it. Unless you ask the right questions.

e.g. Has anyone ever called you gay?

If you don't then go on to ask 'Did it bother you?'. You can't really say that person felt bullied. And if they didn't feel bullied then they weren't bullied.

Context is important.

Answer 3

I think it's the biggest load of crap I've ever heard in my life. Traditionally persecuted groups have much lower definitions of what equates to bullying or abuse anyway. 12% sexual assaulted, that's absolutely wrong. There aren't groups of pupils running 'round schools sexually assaulting gay people, it's a complete fallacy. Terms like 'poof' and 'gay' are not homophobic hate terms - my school reserved them for use ironically, to refer to the sort of guy who skipped P.E. I suspect the majority of the bullying goes on at schools where pupils from low-income families are common, and yeah, whilst I'm not saying gay people should repress it, it would be wise to use a little tact.

This wasn't going on when I was in school about ten years ago and I refuse to believe we've suddenly got a bunch of psuedo-right wingers out to get the gays in our schools.

P.S. Love the way you use the word bigot, like it's some sort of political organisation. LOLZ.

Answer 4

I agree with emxy and eh11 on this one . Of coorse we should not tolerate bullies but whaty are we going to do about it . That is the BIG question. Expulsion could be a solution or shools for gay people or something. But I hate bullies. I wasnt bullied myself but that is becaudse I lived oin a small island and not the fact that I am not different. I am pretty sure I would have been if I had lived on the mainland. so I thank god that I wasnt and i really feel soory for people that are for whatever reason.

Answer 5

Unfortunately, bullies are bullies and they will obviously exploit every area of their bigoted little minds to fulfil their bizarre cravings. We need to be tough on bullies and show more help to the victims of bullying. It appears that we have become to focused on the "poor" bully and are trying to bend over backwards to "help" such inappropriate and disgraceful behaviour.

What is even more disgusting is that teachers, that is, people in a position of trust. Who are there to provide some form of protection to vulnerable victims are colluding with this behaviour. This is tantamount to collusion and these teachers or people in a position of trust should be disciplined accordingly. Furthermore, the police and crown prosecution service should be looking at the hate crimes and prosecuting thus sending out a clear message that such behaviour is unacceptable and will be punished. School children who are subject to this bullying need protection and surely this is what the child protection laws are here to promote.

Homophobia is still seen as the little brother of racism. It is not an equal and until we challenge society's perception of homophobia and place it equally with racism then nothing will change. Unfortunately, this sad reflection of our time needs to be addressed.

Answer 6

Well, the point is, any law that has been (or ever can be) passed deals with the aftermath of an attack - there's no Constitutionality in preemptive measures, unfortunately. So the only thing a person can do is carry him / herself with as much dignity as he / she can muster, and deal with the struggles we all face in life at some point or another. If an attack should happen to occur, that's when you ring the alarm - you have the unalienable RIGHT to exist without feeling threatened because of who you are.

Welcome to America folks - if you have a problem, the door is right next to Texas.

Answer 7

That is what people do that hate. Your question of cases like this still more prevalent in the south than anywhere else? Where did you get that information from? I do not agree with that information because hate crimes are all across our nation now like never before. Determination is a good thing, but patience can be even better.

Answer 8

Picking on people for anything I don't care what it is has always been a sore spot with me ! In high school I was always the one who stuck up for the kids that were picked on, I came from Philly so they were all afraid of me, I don't know why, I guess Jersey kids for some reason or another thought that Philly kids were tough.As an adult I still feel the same way, when ever I hear someone making a derogatory remark about anyone for any reason I try to stick up for them, to no avail. People have make fun of others who are different since the beginng of time, I tend to think it's because of their own insecuitrys. I don't think it's going to change completely, I have seen some difference. I remember saying in high school that something should be done about the kids that make fun to the other kids, but the teachers just ignored it, and I know that they heard it. I think that they should start in the lower grades with time outs or no resess for the kids who break this rule, but this is not going to happen over night, this kind of change takes years. I have always hated the way some kids, and adults also, make fun or ridacule peoples relegion, overweight people, minorities, skinny people, people with defects, gays, even people who can't afford to buy their clothes at the best stores !!! Change is coming, it's just coming too slowly. There's always going to be those ingnorant people who have to be the center of attention by making fun of others so that we don't look too closely at their faults, also they think this is what will make them popular and make them look cool in the other kids eyes. I remember one time in sixth grade I joined in with the other kids making fun of this girls shoes, but by the end of the day I felt so bad that I went to her house and apologize to her. So maybe you just have to have a conscience, and a lot of these little brats today don't because their parents are too busy working and don't have time to teach them manners, so they don't feel bad because they haven't been taught how to treat others, but to me their own conscience should tell them right from wrong, I think people know without being taught when you hurt someone you know it, I don't think someone has to tell you !!

Answer 9

Steve C - gay people's "behaviour" as you incorrectly put it, is not deviant. It's merely different to what you feel is "normal". Those that are "homophobic", which has become a generic term to mean any anti-homosexual act or remark, are simply those who have no idea of anything or anyone that happens witrhout the constraints of their own lives. I am gay, yet I am no different, essentially, to you. I'm assuming that you have eyes and ears and arms and legs and blood and all that? I also have emotions, feelings, sensitivity, passion and empathy for people no matter who, where or what they are. The subject of my sexuality (you'll note I do not use the word preference; it isn't a choice, it's just plain fact) is not something I think about often. I'm just a regular, everyday kind of person who works, lives, shops, eats, drives, laughs, watches TV, listens to msuic, reads, everything that you do. The fact that the subject of my sexuality takes up so much of your emotional energy, whereas yours takes virtually zero of mine, says more about you than it does me. To me, heterosexuality is something I don't understand, but I don't get aerated about it. I accept that people are different, and get on with life. I don't understand it because I've never felt it. I've never been attracted physically or romantically to women, but I don't deplore men who do. I don't go castigating them, belittling them, harrassing them. I don't spit at them, hit them or kick them. It doesn't even register in my mind to do anything excpet smile and say hello, or just walk by. The fact that some "normal" people seem to feel that it's acceptable to injure people because they have a difference is a very sad fact of the way the world is today. Do yourselves a favour and change your mind about someone today. It can be as little as just walking on past, or as much as saying hello. But don't let prejudice rule your whole life, because the stress that it puts on the body may mean that you don't have as much life left as you'd like.

Answer 10

I'll believe that they have any form of bullying under control when I see it...As a gay man...I am well aware of threats and innuendos...I don't take it any more...but at 58 years you are much more immune to the idiocy of others. As a young person it was frightening and painful.