Stop Homophobic Bullying In Schools

DESPITE BIG steps towards legal equality over the last few years, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) young people suffer from homophobic abuse in schools and colleges everyday.

Alex Christie, ISR West London and Marc Vallee, Socialist Party LGBT Group

Adolescence is a time when young people are dealing with their own identity and sexuality, yet feel huge pressure to fit in and conform.

The stereotypical messages the fashion industry, media and society send to young people build up their ideas on how they 'should' look, act and generally live their lives.

Strict 'gender roles' are created in the school environment. The threat of seeming 'unmanly' or 'unfeminine' enforces these 'rules' and anyone who breaks them can find themselves being victimised and abused.

So any boy who doesn't like football or a girl who doesn't like make-up can find themselves been branded as 'gay'.

Both gay and straight alike can suffer homophobic bullying as a form of punishment for being 'different'.

When homophobia takes place in classrooms teachers are usually aware of what's happening. But due to lack of training and fear of 'anti-gay' legislation they are often unsure of how to deal with it.

Bullied

This can mean teachers ignoring homophobic abuse, thus allowing it to continue in the classroom.

Most schools have no clear cut anti-homophobia rules in their anti-bulling policies.

Some religious schools even promote homophobia within their religious teachings. This leaves homophobia unchallenged and able to run rampant.

Bullied LGBT youth can feel isolated and become depressed. Their self-esteem is damaged which lowers educational attainments and some turn to self harm.

Also, some even attempt suicide! LGBT youth are more likely to leave school at 16 than go on to higher education.

Later in life bullied LGBT youth can suffer symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder. They may also suffer from flashbacks and nightmares linked to bulling, and turn to alcohol or drugs to cope.

International Socialist Resistance (ISR) and the Socialist Party LGBT Group is fighting for a socialist alternative to capitalism.

Active

We believe that discrimination against people because of their race, gender, nationality, religion, or sexual orientation is deeply rooted in the society we live in.

The ruling elite use 'divide and rule' tactics to maintain their power. We stand for the unity of young and working LGBT people.

We play an active part in the struggle against all forms of discrimination and against low pay, exploitation and the under-funding of our education.

We campaign for a socialist society run democratically for need not profit, where discrimination and prejudice are part of history, not part of our lives.

For all schools and colleges to have a section on homophobia in their anti-bullying policies.
Sex education in schools to cover both sexual identity and sexuality issues.
Teachers to receive training and support at a local and national level on handling homophobic bullying and LGBT issues in the classroom.

"Homophobic bullying is the most widespread form of abuse in schools."

Dr Epstein from the London University Institute of Education

"There could be as many as 46,000 young people being bullied for their sexual orientation in secondary schools"

Dr Ian Rivers, a senior lecturer in social psychology

"In too many secondary schools homophobic attitudes among pupils go unchallenged. The problem is compounded when derogatory terms about homosexuality are used in everyday language in school and the use passes unchallenged by staff".

OFSTED report

"70% of those who experience homophobic abuse have attempted suicide."

1992 survey by the Lesbian Youth Support Group and Information Service

Pride Parade, Saturday 3 July

Assemble Hyde Park corner 11am

Rally 2.30pm Trafalgar Square

TUC LGBT conference

Laws Alone Are Not Enough

THIS WEEK the TUC is holding its Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) conference. Quite rightly the main items for discussion are discrimination in the workplace and the new regulations outlawing this.

Mark Everden, PCS branch officer

The new regulations mean that for the first time LGBT people are afforded some workplace protection under the law. However, groups such as Stonewall have publicised these changes with campaigns such as "Discrimination: It's So Over", whereas nothing could be further from the truth.

The laws themselves are important gains but they will not alone make discrimination against LGBT people disappear overnight. It will only become effective through struggle and campaigning - the trade unions taking up cases and representing members, and campaigns such as those of the Socialist Party LGBT group and International Socialist Resistance against homophobic bullying.

The new regulations also contain certain exemptions. For instance it is still legal for religious or "faith-based" employers to discriminate against LGBT people. This outright discrimination was challenged by a cross-union legal action, which disgracefully was not upheld.

It is a scandal that New Labour allowed this exemption to stay. It is essential that the TUC continues to pursue and campaign on this issue.

The regulations also exempt employers' pension schemes from the law and will mean that LGBT partners will not be afforded the same benefits given to heterosexual partners.

Again, there must be a big campaign on this issue. The historic pensions demo on 19 June was a start but trade unions must make sure that equality is the very basis that campaigning on pensions is based on.

Many LGBT people face discrimination and abuse on a daily basis. Whilst laws may help reduce some discrimination, true equality cannot be achieved under capitalism.

Only by linking the struggle for LGBT rights to the struggle for an equal socialist society, free from prejudice and discrimination, can true change be achieved.