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Hephaestion
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 Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2007 10:48 am Post subject: *Another* study: harassment of queer youth common |
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Just when do we get to the point where we stop "studying" the situation and start DOING something about it?
| Quote: | Arizona's gay and lesbian students need better protection against harassment, a national study says.
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The report also found that "biased language, especially homophobic and sexist remarks, were commonly heard among students and often overlooked by teachers and other school staff. Biased language was even heard from some teachers and school staff." (My emphasis)
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The study found fewer than half of the students surveyed reported feeling very safe at school, 44 percent reported bullying, name-calling and harassment and more than 60 percent reported peers being harassed because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation, their looks or body size and gender expression. |
As Feral points out, this is only the latest of umpteen bloody "studies" that all show the same result. Once again, I can't really add to his assessment:
| Quote: | I casually wonder how many times this freaking study needs to be done?
Will it surprise anyone that I think the kind of neglect on the part of the teachers and administrators that has clearly been demonstrated by this study is grounds for a criminal investigation?
I'm done playing with words like "discrimination," "prejudice," and "differences." It's criminal what these teachers are doing (or rather, not doing)... worth 90 days per incident (and while there appear to be a great many incidents, I'm still hot for consecutive, not concurrent, sentences) that they knew about or should have known about, and one year for each incident that they actually participated in. Needless to say, they all get summarily dismissed from their positions regardless of how their trials turn out. |
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 9:22 pm Post subject: |
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The good news from Iowa...
Lawmakers push anti-bullying bill forward
| Quote: | A bill requiring Iowa school districts to adopt anti-bullying policies expressly barring harassment of gay and lesbian students took a major step toward becoming law Wednesday.
The bill, approved 11-4 by the Senate Education Committee, requires schools to target all bullying and harassment against students. But it also takes specific aim at bullies whose taunts are tied to a list of real or perceived traits or characteristics.
That list includes "age, color, creed, national origin, race, religion, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender, identity, physical attributes, physical or mental ability or, disability, ancestry, political belief, socioeconomic status, or familial status."
Districts are free to add to the list, but can't subtract categories.
The bill would apply to students, staff and volunteers at all accredited public and nonpublic schools. Committee passage sends it to the full Senate for debate. |
The "typical" news from Iowa...
| Quote: | Democrats have tried and failed for two years to push an anti-bullying bill through the Legislature. Things could be different this year now that Democrats control the General Assembly and have the support of Gov. Chet Culver.
Some Republicans also support the bill. But most oppose including the list of protected classes and characteristics.
Sen. Dave Mulder, R-Sioux Center, tried to remove the list from the bill, but his amendment failed on a 9-6 party-line vote.
"Nobody wants anybody to be bullied," said Mulder, who eventually voted for the bill. "I'm just not sure we can list everybody."
Sen. Nancy Boettger, R-Harlan, tried to expand the list to include other characteristics such as style of dress, participation in extra-curricular activities and level of intelligence. Her amendment failed and she voted against the bill. |
The bad, and "typical" news from Iowa"
| Quote: | The bill would require districts to implement policies, train employees and make progress reports to the state. The bill, however, carries no penalties for districts that fail to follow through.
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Meaning it's worse than useless, because as the same article notes,
| Quote: | | Officials said 77 Iowa districts already have policies on the books with protections contained in the bill. Iowa has 364 school districts. |
And yet, bullying remains at crisis proportions for queer students. Because there are no sanctions, no teeth to all these pretty proclamations and policies. But legislators and school boards can pat themselves on the back, because they've "done something", while the situation on the ground for queer kids continues on apace.
And *that's* why it's worse than useless.
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 7:18 am Post subject: |
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Anti-bully laws move forward in Florida and Iowa
| Quote: | Bills that would require school boards to establish anti-bullying programs have passed key committees in Florida and Iowa.
In Florida the Senate Education Prekindergarten-12 Committee voted 6-1 to approve the bill after hearing emotional testimony from a woman whose son committed suicide after repeated taunting from other students and a father of a boy who nearly died in a beating.
[...]
The bill is similar to one introduced last year but was dropped following pressure from some religious groups and school boards.
The new bill still must be approved by the Senate Criminal Justice Committee before going to a full vote in that chamber. Similar legislation has been introduced in the House but no action has been taken there.
In Iowa, an anti-bullying bill has passed the Senate Education Committee after two years of lobbying by LGBT rights groups. It would protect students on the basis of race, disability and sexuality. A House version is nearing a vote on the floor. |
Again, though, these pieces of paper are merely that -- pieces of paper, setting out meaningless words -- unless governments, agencies and schools are prepared to demonstrate that they will take meaningful action to *stop* the bullying. And based on what I've seen so far, from London to Vancouver to various locations in the States, I'm not holding my breath.
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 12:23 pm Post subject: |
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Iowa Anti-Bullying Bill Advances
| Quote: | The Iowa House has passed legislation to protect students from bullying in Iowa schools that includes LGBT pupils - but with a condition. The bill states that private religious schools cannot be prosecuted for teaching homosexuality is wrong.
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The Senate two weeks ago passed a similar measure. That version does not contain the religious schools provision and would require schools to report harassment incidents to the state and indicate what the school did in response.
The two versions must be harmonized in committee and then receive final approval. |
The bill states that private religious schools cannot be prosecuted for teaching homosexuality is wrong.
But can we 'mos get legislative protection from prosection for running around teaching young people that religious people are all out to recruit, brainwash and corrupt your children? That many of them are child abusers, and so for the good of all they should not be allowed to marry or have children, or to work or teach around children? That their public ceremonies and observances are 'sick', 'immoral' and 'depraved', something to be ashamed of that should be held in private?
You think the Iowa House of Representatives would pass a bill like that?
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 12:30 pm Post subject: |
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Meanwhile, 'cross The Pond...
Homophobic bullying 'getting worse'
| Quote: | High-profile homophobic bullying initiatives are failing to make a significant impact in preventing homophobic bullying according to the Queer Youth Network.
It argues the very nature of schools themselves need to be looked at in order to eradicate all forms of bullying. Tackling homophobic bullying alone is creating a distraction from dealing with a much larger problem.
In the organisation's national survey of young people from schools who had an anti-homophobic bullying policy 79% believed it had failed to make any difference to the level of homophobic bullying in their school, and 84% believed it was getting worse.
An overwhelming majority concluded that homophobic bullying was hardly ever an issue on it's own, but it is combined with other types of victimisation, such as someone's appearance. 96% felt this was the case.
Activist, David Henry of the Queer Youth Network commented "Despite all our best efforts there is only so much we can do without a big change in thinking" |
Ahhh, but I would argue that it's NOT their "best effort". The same article goes on to say:
| Quote: | At the National Association of Schoolmasters & Union of Women Teachers LGBT Conference in Birmingham on Saturday, Peter Tachell pointed out that although "Section 28 may have been repealed, many schools are still failing to challenge homophobic bullying."
"This bullying affects both gay pupils and gay staff. Lesbian and gay teachers are being subjected to taunts, ridicule and abuse by homophobic pupils. They do not always get support and back-up from other members of staff," he continued.
"Unlike racism, homophobia is often tolerated in the classroom and playground. "Gay" has become a commonplace taunt. Most schools don't bother to discipline offenders." |
I agree. Throw the little thugs out of school. Have them arrested, if necessary. And fire the teachers and administrators -- ALL of them -- who won't do their bloody jobs.
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 12:41 pm Post subject: |
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Exclusion for religious schools struck from Iowa gay bully bill
| Quote: | The Iowa Senate has passed legislation aimed at curbing bullying of LGBT students and other minority groups in schools.
Language in the House version that passed last week but which excluded religious schools was removed in the Senate. The bill now returns to the House. Democrats control both houses in the legislature and House leadership has agreed to pass the Senate version.
The issue of excluding religious schools prompted heated debate in the Senate with Republicans pressing to have the House version passed without amendment. |
All very nice, but if the laws are not enforced, they are useless.
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:51 pm Post subject: |
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NJ supreme court: schools must protect gay students
| Quote: | "We do not suggest, however, that isolated schoolyard insults or classroom taunts are actionable."
A student would have to complain to school officials that the bullying was based on his or her "perceived sexual orientation" and that the school district failed to reasonably address the problem the ruling said.
The court noted that school districts do not have to eradicate all types of harassment to avoid liability, but must show they have "implement effective preventive and remedial measures" to curb the discrimination. |
And if the measures *aren't* effective? I await the first round of mass firings. Yeah, right! 
| Quote: | The case involved the appeal by the Toms River Regional School District of a 2005 lower court ruling that it must pay $50,000 to a student who was repeatedly beaten by other students who perceived him to be gay.
The school district's lawyer argued that children and schools cannot be held to the same standards as workplaces and employers.
"The rules are entirely different for the workplace than they are for schools," attorney Thomas E. Monahan told the court. "We can't just fire a student. It's rare that a student gets expelled." |
That's just the problem -- they aren't thrown out on their asses. So, if they aren't, the teachers (and principles) should be.
Like I said, as IF!!!!
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 2:53 pm Post subject: |
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Iowa anti-bully law goes into effect
| Quote: | (Des Moines, Iowa) Iowa Gov. Chet Culver signed anti-bullying legislation Monday that provides specific protections for gay and lesbian students.
[...]
"Iowa has joined the small but growing group of states that are proactively addressing the crucial issue of student safety," said Kevin Jennings, Executive Director of GLSEN - the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network. |
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 9:18 pm Post subject: |
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Another case that demonstrates that words on paper don't mean shit without *action*...
Anti-gay bias rages in Dallas schools
| Quote: | A teacher uses class time to talk about how specific LGBT students are going to hell.
A security guard calls an LGBT student a "faggot" within earshot of school administrators, who do nothing about it. The student subsequently drops out.
An LGBT teacher is reprimanded for using his school's video system to disseminate information about the Gay-Straight Alliance. |
Fer comments: "Sounds like they need an anti-discrimination policy. The funny thing is, it seems they've had one for 16 years."
| Quote: | Lambda Legal Regional Director Dennis Coleman, a member of the committee, said DISD is not legally required to implement the policy.
However, if it does not, it runs the risk of lawsuits from those who are discriminated against, he said. "The school district has been very lucky," Coleman said. |
Oh, I hope one of these kids contacts Lambda Legal *soon*, and that it ends up costing these assholes a HUGE amount of money.
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 6:56 am Post subject: |
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Catholic schools in UK are refusing to discipline homophobic bullies
| Quote: | A committee of MPs has attacked Roman Catholic church-run schools for refusing to implement government guidelines on setting up anti-homophobic bullying policies.
The investigation into all bullying in schools was instigated by Liberal Democrat MP and education spokesman Stephen Williams.
"Bullying is a matter of child welfare, not one of theology," Mr Williams told PinkNews.co.uk. "If you can't learn in a safe environment then school has failed in its primary mission."
Last year Archbishop Vincent Nichols, who is head of the Catholic Education Service, told the education and skills select committee that specific issues of bullying should not be singled out. He insisted that the Church had no problems with a person¹s sexual orientation, but "sexual intercourse belongs within marriage."
"I hope the Archbishop will examine his conscience and put the welfare of children first," commented Mr Williams, who is gay. |
I hope that some of these bullied students sue Archbishop Vincent Nichols personally, as well as the schools, teachers and principles who not only allow this bigotry to continue unabated, but perpetuate it.
| Quote: | | All schools are required by law to have an anti-bullying policy, but many do not collate figures on how much bullying goes on. |
Thus making these policies virtually useless.
| Quote: | | The committee expressed concern that this may be to protect the school's reputation. |
Ya think?!
| Quote: | The report also highlights the rise of cyber-bullying, where children are harassed by email or text message. The committee heard evidence from charity Anti-Bullying Alliance that between 30-50% of young people in secondary schools attracted to people of the same sex will have directly experienced homophobic bullying compared to the 10-20% of young people who have experienced general bullying.
[...]
The Department for Education and Skills will now formally respond to the recommendations of the report. Next week the department will announce new powers for teachers such as the right to confiscate mobile phones and use force to break up fights or restrain violent pupils. New parenting orders will see parents held responsible for the behaviour of their children. |
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 7:00 am Post subject: |
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Catholic church not fit to run schools, says rights group
| Quote: | Such is the level of homophobia in the Catholic Church that its schools should be taken from it and returned to the community sector, says the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA).
Reacting to a House of Commons Select Committee report, published today, which shows that the Catholic Church is refusing to tackle homophobic bullying in its schools, GALHA's secretary George Broadhead said: "We've seen homophobia in Catholic circles rising at a terrifying rate over the past few months. The Pope is almost hysterical on the topic and the British Catholic hierarchy is constantly agitating to retard gay rights. What chance have gay pupils got in schools which are run by an organisation that hates them?
"For the sake of these children and for the community at large which should be protected from the promotion of bigotry in schools, the Catholic Church should be stripped of its educational establishments. Let us not forget that these schools are paid for entirely by the taxpayer -- in effect, we are all funding the unchecked bullying of gay children. Well, that's not how I want my tax contributions spent." |
Emphasis added. And I couldn't agree more.
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ennui27
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| Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 8:04 am Post subject: |
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Yo Hephaestion:
As a starting position, I have more respect for most Catholic systems than for most public. I like the idea of the world being explained in a context rather than as series of existential surprises. This is not to say I am a Catholic ( save in a Graham Greene kind of way, I lost the mysticism and kept the guilt). Yet the theory of an over riding form, a paradigm, satisfies me. Maybe Marxism would do as well.
When the job of governments was to supply the King with money and supplies for his wars, the church schools provided at least elementary training - and arguable, in Ireland, allowed a repository of learning to feed the renaissance explosion in desire for learning.
That being said, historical and philosophical positions do not justify current abuses. you are correct that Let us not forget that these schools are paid for entirely by the taxpayer and that is a potent lever. It should be used .....
Schools are mirrors of the world around them, and it is a sad fact that homophobic bullying happens outside of learning establishment too. Althought far less than when I went to (a catholic) school. When it is not in the general scoiety, it will no longer be in the school.
The Pope bedamned ....  - force the schools to provide a risk free environment. Even if force should be the last and definitely is, the worst option. Dangle the possibility of a funding reduction and watch how quickly how a batch of Living in Society and Cultural Accomodation courses appear.  See how quickly 'no tolerance' of bullying SOPs are laid down, and enforced. |
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leftcoastguy
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| Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 8:19 am Post subject: |
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ennui27
Exactly!
Cheers,
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ennui27
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| Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 8:26 am Post subject: |
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 8:44 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | When it is not in the general scoiety, it will no longer be in the school. |
And what better place to start than the schools?
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ennui27
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| Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 2:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Hephaestion wrote: | | Quote: | | When it is not in the general scoiety, it will no longer be in the school. |
And what better place to start than the schools? |
yes indeed
The system is in place, but not working, thus: | Quote: | | Living in Society and Cultural Accomodation courses appear. See how quickly 'no tolerance' of bullying SOPs are laid down, and enforced. |
The funding agency is a powerful tool. Keep up the yelling and screaming and highlighting where it fails - to trash the whole apparatus would be counter productive.
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 10:13 am Post subject: |
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Michigan: anti-bullying bill headed for Senate showdown
| Quote: | Legislation that would protect students from bullying that includes protections for LGBT pupils is expected to get a rough ride in the Republican-controlled Michigan Senate, after passing the Democratic-run House.
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The legislation covers race, ancestry, national origin, sex, height, weight, religion and sexuality.
Supporters said some schools aren¹t doing enough to help students who¹ve been bullied. The bill is named after Matt Epling, a high school student who killed himself in 2002 after a hazing incident.
Republicans and social conservatives oppose the legislation because it includes protections for gay students.
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The legislation narrowly passed the House on a vote mostly along party lines. It's future in the Senate is far from certain. |
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 7:49 pm Post subject: |
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Oh, goody! Another STUDY!
| Quote: | Gay students three times more likely to be bullied
(Boston, Massachusetts) In what is described as the broadest study of bullying and sexual orientation to date, lesbian and gay adolescents were three to four times more likely to report having been bullied than heterosexual teens.
The study, conducted by researchers at the Children's Hospital Boston Division of Adolescent Medicine, also found that bisexual adolescents and those identifying as "mostly heterosexual" were twice as likely to be bullied.
"It's clear that sexual minority youth are a population vulnerable to bullying," researcher Elise Berlan, MD said on Friday. "This needs to be addressed, particularly in schools." |
Where *would* we be without this woman?! But she's not done yet!
| Quote: | | Berlan and Austin said they hope to conduct a more detailed follow-up study to better understand how bullying affects health outcomes. |
Thank goodness! Now that we have finally been made aware of this heretofore hidden problem, surely something will be DONE. Thank YOU, Children's Hospital Boston Division of Adolescent Medicine!!!!
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 1:01 pm Post subject: |
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When will queer youth be safe in BC schools?
| Quote: | Opposition MLAs and education activists reacted with frustration and skepticism to what they're calling the BC government's new bare-bones safe schools policy, introduced Mar 29. They say the policy falls far short of protecting queer students and staff from intimidation and harassment on the grounds of real or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity.
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"There is continual failure on the part of government and this has gone on for over a decade both [with] the NDP and the Liberals. The question is when will LGBT youth truly be safe in schools?" Chamberlain asks.
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"What we have now is nothing. Just flapping gums and paper. It's not going to change the lives of kids." |
Background:
Gay Curriculum Under Siege
I liked Feral's commentary:
| Quote: | When will LGBT youth truly be safe in schools? I suppose one could quibble about "safe from what." If we decline the invitation to a change of subject (since we know perfectly well what LGBT youth are not safe from today), the answer really is quite simple.
When they are in gay schools.
Would you care to speculate on just why it is that there is so much resistance to the otherwise very workable tactic of removing the homophobic elements from schools? It seems entirely straight-forward -- it there are homophobic bullies, expel them; if there are homophobic teachers, fire them. In their absence, the problem evaporates.
Here's my stab at it -- this tactic relies fairly heavily on the notion that there are only a few of these troublesome elements, that this is an operable cancer. The resistance comes from a bred-in-the-bone realization that the number of these people is not small, that such a program would affect the bulk of the population in the schools, both students and faculty.
An operable or a metastatic cancer -- that is the debate. Apart from repairing to a hospice to die in peace, doing nothing is rarely among the proposed solutions. |
And Viktor turned up an interesting piece about the situation in Japan, and how "bullying" doesn't necessarily have to involve physical violence:
| Quote: | Japanese society and Japanese individuals aren't actively hostile to gays [..] but the social dynamic is different in Japan. One can be out to friends, in some cases, but my students agree that if a man's company found out he was gay, while he probably wouldn't be fired, he would definitely never be promoted and his co-workers would socially ostracize him.
This is a very frightening thought for Japanese, for whom social inclusion is extremely important. Bullying is considered a big problem in Japanese schools, and the most common form of 'bullying' is one in which most or all of a class ostracizes one child. In America this wouldn't really be considered 'bullying,' but in Japan, students have committed suicide because of it. It's a very big deal. Gay Japanese know that the more out they get, the closer they get to that. |
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:59 am Post subject: |
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Gay bullying turns teens off education\
| Quote: | Gay and lesbian people in New Zealand who come out openly in their teens are more likely to opt out of higher education because of school bullying, says a new study.
Lower educational achievement over the course of their whole lives was the likely long-term impact on teens bullied as a result of coming out as gay or lesbian, says Dr Mark Henrickson, author of the study.
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In the survey, which 2269 people responded to, a multi-disciplinary team of researchers deliberately focussed on developing a more general profile of New Zealand's lesbian and gay sector by asking questions about identity and self-definition, family, immigration, politics, work, income and spending, leisure, community connections, religion and spirituality.
The two studies, one on educational attainment and gay sexual identity and another on bullying and educational attainment, found that gay and lesbian people with higher qualifications tended to come out about their sexuality later in life. The result surprised Dr Henrickson. |
Like Feral, my response was, "Well d'UH!" -- it seems self-evident that bullying increases high school drop-out rates, let alone considering post-secondary education. (After all, it's tough to get into a college or university if you dropped out in junior high, eh?) But apparently this result was a surprise to some, including the core group of researchers, who are members of the community being studied. But there you are -- I guess some people are easily surprised.
Feral notes:
| Quote: | | This particular study has the sovereign benefit of being readily accessible. The paper, along with a number of other documents can be read here. The research touched upon a host of other subjects (many of which are handled by separate papers. |
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 11:39 am Post subject: |
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Teased about his sexuality, boy killed after lying down in front of train
| Quote: | A TEENAGE boy who had been teased at school about his sexuality was killed after he lay down in front of a speeding train, an inquest heard yesterday.
Jonathan Reynolds was struck by the 85mph train at Pencoed rail station in South Wales, on the evening of January 25 last year. The 15-year-old from Bridgend sent a text message to his father, Mark, and sister Samantha - then aged 14 - moments before he stepped on to the track.
It read: "Tell everyone that this is for anybody who eva said anything bad about me, see I do have feelings too. Blame the people who were horrible and injust 2 me. This is because of them, I am human just like them. I hope they rot in hell 4 what they made me do. They know who they are."
He added: "None of you blame urself mum, dad, Sam and the rest of my family. This is not because of you."
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Detective Chief Inspector Sandra England, of the British Transport Police, told the inquest that one of Jonathan's friends, Aimee Murray, said that just weeks before he died he had confided in her that he was gay. He had been teased about his sexuality by some boys in school and it was getting him down, she said. |
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Change
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| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 7:55 am Post subject: |
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This is one of the saddest things i've ever seen oh my gosh..It's heart breaking.
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What we've got here is failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach, so you get what we had here last week which is the way he wants it. Well, he gets it. And I don't like it any more than you men. |
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 4:56 pm Post subject: |
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BC study: lesbian teens face more violence than straights
| Quote: | A new report says gay, lesbian and bisexual teens in British Columbia face more violence and health problems than heterosexuals.
The report was prepared by University of B.C. researcher Elizabeth Saewyc and released by the McCreary Center Society of Vancouver.
The survey found that gay, lesbian and bisexual teens were up to three times as likely to suffer physical and sexual abuse or harassment in school, as well as discrimination.
Members of the same group are also three times as likely to have become pregnant or gotten someone pregnant. |
And yet the BC Liberals have voted not to protect queer students...
(Bit more to story @ top link)
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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UK Government Rejects Compulsory Recording Of Homophobic Bullying
| Quote: | The Department for Education and Skills has rejected a call from MPs to make all schools record bullying incidents.
At present only racist incidents must be recorded.
The House of Commons Select Committee also called for more action on bullying focused at children with special educational needs and cyber-bullying.
We do not think it necessary to introduce a statutory requirement to record incidents of bullying and there would be logistical difficulties in doing so, the department said.
In addition, introducing a statutory requirement for schools to record bullying incidents will not necessarily persuade more schools to do so. |
So, one is left to presume that is IS worthwhile to maintain a list of racist incidents, and there are no major "logistical difficulties" in doing so, but the same does not hold true for recording incidents of anti-queer bullying. How does *that* work?
Methinks the odor of rat is becoming overpowering, here...
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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Gee, maybe this is why the UK government doesn't want to have schools record and report all incidents of homophobic harrassment (see post above). There's too gawd-damn much of it, and school faculty and staff are culpable:
| Quote: | The results of the first major study into bullying of LGBT students in the UK are shocking politicians and prompting demands from LGBT activists for immediate action.
The study, produced for LGBT group Stonewall shows that 41 percent of British gay students have experienced homophobic bullying, that 12 percent had been sexually abused and that 17 percent had received death threats because of their sexuality. In releasing the figures Stonewall said it would appear that some 150,000 LGBT students had been the victims of some sort of bullying by classmates.
Even more damning, the group said that in many instances teachers and school administrators just look the other way.
"These deeply disturbing figures should serve as a wake-up call to everyone working in education," said Ben Summerskill, the executive director of Stonewall.
"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."
Nearly 70 percent of the bullied students said the abuse has affected their school work.
A Department for Education called the extent of bullying a shock but said that the department already has taken steps to curb attacks on students by requiring schools report bullying and giving teachers more authority to act against bullies.
Nevertheless, the study says that only about a quarter of the students report when they are bullied because they don't believe anything will be done. |
Sure, the education department's reponse to this is basically, "it's already being looked after; it's not that big a problem."
Excuse me, but it bloody well IS. For the umpeenth time, queer students should be in queer schools. Period. And a lot of straight students, teachers, administrators and education department bureaucrats should be up on CHARGES.
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 12:54 pm Post subject: |
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Harassed gay Ind. students call for school protection
| Quote: | When Jordan Becker was in eighth grade, she learned her first lesson about how gay people can be treated in the classroom and in life.
Three years ago, Becker was an openly gay student at Olympia Middle School in Stanford. She got As in her classes and was president of the student council. Things changed, said Becker, after her girlfriends mother contacted school officials about the relationship.
The teachers pulled my friends out of class and said they couldnt be friends with me. At one point it got so bad the school had to call in counselors to help me, said Becker, now a junior at Normal Community West High School. At one low point during the ordeal, Becker said she considered suicide.
Beckers mother, Rhonda Becker, said school officials rearranged her daughters schedule to separate the two girls. Teachers followed Becker in the hallways and into the bathroom.
When she was kicked off the student council without a reason, that was the last straw, said Rhonda Becker.
With legal assistance from the American Civil Liberties Union, the school district and Beckers family reached an agreement that restored Beckers student council position and her class schedule.
But bitter feelings about the incident remained, and the family has since moved from the Olympia district into Unit 5. Becker helped establish the Gay Straight Alliance at the Normal high school. Last year, about 20 students attended meetings of the group, which helps students explore sexual orientation issues, she said.
Looking back, I realize that no one should have to go through what I went through, said Becker. |
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Hephaestion
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Hephaestion
Deeply Shallow
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| Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 12:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | It's been about a year since the attacks stopped, but Alice can't shake the memories. The 14-year-old was beaten up repeatedly while walking home from school in Orillia, Ontario. The reason for the violence, she said, was her openness about her bisexuality.
"They'd call me a fag and flamer and start making fun of me," she recalled. She said her attackers were males and females who followed her off school grounds and assaulted her. "Nobody ever stopped (to help) or said anything."
One of her schoolmates, 17-year-old Byron, experienced homophobia just two weeks ago. The gay teen was pushed into the bushes at the train station and called fag and queer, he said. It's bad enough having to deal with that in public, never mind going home to a family that doesn't accept his homosexuality. |
*click*
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:34 am Post subject: |
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Pink tsunami sends bullies a message
| Quote: | Bullies who threatened a new student at their Nova Scotia high school for wearing a pink polo shirt were themselves schooled by two seniors who dressed half the student body in pink two days later, the Chronicle-Herald of Halifax reported.
The newbie, a ninth-grader, showed up in pink Sept. 5 for the first day of class at Central Kings Rural High School and was set upon by a group of six to 10 older teens who called him gay and threatened to beat him up, the paper reported.
The next day, seniors David Shepherd and Travis Price decided to act.
[...]
Enlisting as many students as they could online that evening, David and Travis headed to school Friday with a pink basketball, 75 pink tank tops for male students to wear and yards of pink fabric for headbands and armbands. They even persuaded a local retailer to open early so they could buy more.
"Clothes were flying. They were digging to help us find pink shirts," David told the Kings County Register. |
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 1:05 pm Post subject: |
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Pediatricians Told To Be On Lookout For Suicide Signs In Gay Teens
| Quote: | The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued new guidelines for helping doctors identify potential signs of suicide among teenagers.
Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for adolescents 15 to 19 years olds the Academy says in its updated guidelines, published in the journal Pediatrics.
[...]
Among the risk factors listed in the report is gay or bisexual orientation. Other factors include a family history of suicide, parental history of mental health problems, history of physical or sexual abuse, and the presence of firearms in the home.
The report notes that based on the 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey of US ninth- through twelfth-grade students, 28.6 percent reported feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for at least 2 weeks in a row during the 12 months before the survey. Sixteen percent had planned a suicide attempt, 8.5 percent had attempted suicide, and 2.9 percent had made a suicide attempt that required medical attention.
Last year a Canadian study found that lesbian teens are far more likely to attempt suicide than gay teens or heterosexual teens.
The researchers reported that 38 per cent of teenage lesbians and 30.4 per cent of bisexual girls said they had attempted suicide in the previous year, compared to 8.2 per cent of heterosexual girls.
A similar study in Northern Ireland found that 25 percent of all young gay men have attempted suicide and nearly two thirds have considered suicide.
A third study, released this week by the University of Washington suggests that college students who are questioning their sexuality are at the greatest risk of suicide.
The students identified themselves as heterosexual, but also reported being attracted to people of the same sex or engaging in same-sex behavior. They were three times as likely as heterosexuals to have made a plan to commit suicide in the past year.
Schoolyard homophobic bullying is one of the leading causes of teen suicide. |
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2007 11:32 am Post subject: |
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Anti-gay slurs may be damaging to heterosexual students too
| Quote: | A study of middle-school students in Central Illinois has found that being called anti-gay names significantly predicts higher levels of trauma for students regardless of sexual orientation. Such name-calling may lead to anxiety, depression, personal distress, and a lower sense of school belonging.
"These results are another indication that verbal bullying in schools should not be tolerated," said Dr. Robert-Jay Green, executive director of the Rockway Institute at Alliant International University.
"Unfortunately, anti-gay name-calling is often viewed by adults as part of growing up and is tolerated by school officials, but this study finds the behavior is damaging to all students."
[...]
The researchers recommend that although name-calling may "appear to be harmless banter between friends, teachers and administrators should intervene during these occurrences, and school policies should specifically address and seek to decrease these occurrences." The study also indicates that "school counselors should be open to discussing antigay bullying and victimization when counseling and working with students who are victimized by their peers"
The authors of the study concluded: "Existing research has underscored the traumatizing effects of homophobic victimization for gay and lesbian students, and this investigation suggests that homophobic victimization can also be detrimental to heterosexual students, further underscoring the relevancy of this issue for teachers, administrators, and school counselors." |
I see... NOW it should be a matter of concern, 'coz it's affecting straight kids, too...
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 11:45 pm Post subject: |
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International LGBT group want gay-friendly schools
| Quote: | 100 young LGBT people from all over Europe gathered in Mįlaga, Spain, last week for the three-day meeting of International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Queer Youth and Student Organisation.
IGLYO member organisations discussed strategies for advancing equality and human rights for LGBTQ young people.
Euro MP Michael Cashman spoke at the event. He is President of the European Parliament Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights. |
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Tehanu
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| Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 2:27 am Post subject: |
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Egale Canada and the University of Winnipeg are teaming up to document incidences of homophobia and transphobia in Canadian schools.
Press release:
| Quote: | TORONTO: Egale Canada today launched a national survey designed to explore the experiences of homophobia and transphobia of students in Canadian Schools. "We are working with School Boards, Gay Straight Alliances, agencies and service providers to make sure as many youth as possible across the country have access to the survey," said Helen Kennedy, Executive Director of Egale Canada. "It's available online at www.climatesurvey.ca and is easy to navigate."
"This project will document the school climate for straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, Two Spirit, intersex, queer and questioning (LGBTTIQ) students in Canada," says Dr. Catherine Taylor, Faculty of Education, University of Winnipeg, and the project's principal investigator. "It's the first comprehensive study of its kind in Canada and the results will provide us with the information needed to make schools safer and more respectful."
LGBTTIQ teens are more likely to be threatened with weapons, drop out of school because of harassment and are forced to leave home because of conflicts with parents. One such teen, Jen Blaser, tells a story that is all too familiar in our school environment. "As an out queer youth, I received death threats and suffered several physical assaults," says Blaser, "eventually I left school because I had no sense of security or safety."
British Columbia educator and Chair of Egale Canada's Education Committee Noble Kelly explains that the survey is long overdue, "it will give us the statistics necessary to help develop the kinds of supports kids need while coming to terms with who they are." |
The Climate Survey is here. |
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 2:36 am Post subject: |
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Oh, goodie. I'll just bet this study will be met with many calls from 'the usual suspects' that question the study's methodology and therefore its results. As a result, another study will need to be done...
I've seen it all before, elsewhere.
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TS.
Delicious schadenfreude
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| Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 6:12 pm Post subject: |
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A couple weeks back, CBC Nova Scotia was really promoting this survey. I heard a couple pieces about it on various programmes.
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:04 pm Post subject: |
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| TS. wrote: | | A couple weeks back, CBC Nova Scotia was really promoting this survey. I heard a couple pieces about it on various programmes. |
Wanna help me keep an eye out for survey results?
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TS.
Delicious schadenfreude
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Location: Toronto, ON
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| Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 4:26 am Post subject: |
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Sure. Though I don't have any idea when it will be ready. We can probably watch their website though. They should be up there when they are ready.
ETA: The website for Egale Canada is here: http://www.egale.ca/index.asp?lang=E
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"Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear." - Thomas Jefferson |
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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I was just discussing this topic with my buddy, John yesterday following the hockey game. When I mentioned the numbers of queer youth who are homeless because their relatives have thrown them out, John said, "But that doesn't happen any more, does it? I mean, people don't still do that?!" (John is a sweet man, but he's awfully naive, sometimes.)
He was aghast when I disabused him of his fantasies, and told him the sheer numbers involved.
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 6:25 pm Post subject: |
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British teen driven to suicide over gay taunts
| Quote: | British police are investigating the suicide of a 14-year girl who had been subjected to constant bullying by classmates who called her a lesbian.
The body of Belinda Allen was discovered by a man walking his dog in Southwater. Police said the teen had tied a scarf around her neck and hanged herself from a tree.
It is not known if the girl identified as being gay but she had suffered taunting and bullying for more than a year friends said on Thursday.
[...]
It is the second time that a student at the same school has committed suicide as a result of bullying.
Last year an 11-year old boy hanged himself from his bunk bed at home using shoelaces. Following that death the West Sussex County Council set up an anti-bullying task force. But students say it has done little to curb schoolyard bullying.
[...]
[A Dec. 2007 government] advisory said that students who taunt gays need to be disciplined and that if detentions and suspensions do not work police should be called in to deal with the problem. It also reminded schools that homophobia is a crime. |
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 7:51 am Post subject: |
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Stonewall speaks out about homophobic bullying after teen suicide
| Quote: | Gay equality organisation Stonewall has highlighted the treatment of gay kids in British schools after media reports about a teenage girl who committed suicide after a campaign of harassment about her sexuality.
In a letter to supporters Stonewall chief executive Ben Summerskill wrote: "A number of newspapers reported the death by suicide on Tuesday of a 14 year-old girl from Sussex who had been reportedly taunted by bullies calling her a lesbian.
"Although the exact facts of such tragedies will often never be known, it reminds us that homophobic bullying affects not only young gay people but also those who are perceived as gay or different.
"Stonewall's recent pioneering research The School Report shows that, shockingly, 65 per cent of young lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils have experienced homophobic bullying and that homophobic language is endemic in Britain's schools.
"Thirty per cent of lesbian and gay pupils reported that it was adults in their schools who were actually responsible for homophobic bullying.
"It's a reminder of the critical importance of our Education for All campaign. |
(my emphasis)
Lots more @ link...
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JennyB
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| Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 5:56 pm Post subject: Egale Canada Survey on Homophobia and Transphobia in Schools |
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Hi,
I would like to provide you with some more information on this survey. I am the 'Jen Blaser' quoted in the article posted, and I was also in those CBC interviews that you spoke about.
The climate survey is the FIRST survey that will establish some national statistic within Canada. Right now all we have to go off of are american stats. We have several school boards supporting the survey publicly and quite a few that are annonomously offering support.
If you have questions, feel free to ask.
-Jen |
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Tehanu
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| Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 6:05 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Jen, welcome to enMasse! Great to see you. I'm really infuriated and sad hearing about the attacks and harassment that you had to endure ... I hope things are going better for you now. Can I just say how much I admire your courage in speaking out about this issue!
Speaking for myself, I'm very pleased to see that this survey is taking place. I think there's a certain complacency in Canada, because we look at American statistics or incidents, give ourselves a pat on the back, and say to ourselves, well, we're not like that. But we are.
I do know that there's a certain amount of frustration among queer activists about research, because we do know that these things happen, we do see youth being thrown out of their homes or attacked at school, and often it seems nobody is prepared to do much about it. Hopefully documented Canadian research will result in some changes. At the very least, it gives us something to point to when people say that there isn't a problem ... |
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 7:17 pm Post subject: |
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Welcome, Jen -- good to see you, and I hope you find enough content and discussion here to encourage you to become a regular visitor and contributor.
Like Tehanu, I'd like to express my support for and solidarity with you. I guess I just get frustrated and fed up with these interminable studies that are launched not only in country after country but also in jurisdiction after jurisdiction within these countries. I mean, do we really need a study to tell us that the Surrey School Board is rife with anti-queer bigots -- especially after the Board has proved it time and time again with example after example? Do we really need a national study to tell us that anti-queer harassment is an ongoing problem at schools across the nation when we have kids leaping to their death from a bridge in Vancouver or hanging themselves from a tree in London because they were targeted as being "gay" and then ostracized, beaten and abused? Do we need a study to tell us something that should be readily apparent to any thinking person who stands in the schoolyard (or anywhere else young people hang out) and hears comments like "you're such a fag" and "that's so gay" on a regular basis? And I'm not just talking about big-city schools, or just small-town or rural schools -- it's endemic, and it seems to be spread from one end of the country to the other, yet we have school boards and governments who are either turning a blind eye or who are overtly hostile.
Okay, maybe we DO need a study for the sake of the deliberately obtuse. But just like no amount of science will convince many of the "global warming sceptics", I suspect no amount of studies will be sufficient for those who feel their religion gives them carte blanche to discriminate against and abuse queer kids (and to encourage their children to do the same), to deny queer history and culture and refuse to teach it, to refuse to provide queer-oriented sex education, to refuse to provide protection against bullying and harassment for queer youth and to take steps against homophobic thugs in the school population who victimize these students.
BUT while this study is ongoing -- AND while the NEXT one is ongoing in an effort to replicate the results of the first one (because you KNOW there's gonna have to be a second study, and a third, and a fourth, and...) TAKE ACTION. Apply the existing laws, damn it! Suspend bullies -- expell them if necessary. Fire school board members, or entire school boards if necessary, and the same with principals, administrators, teachers and staff.
Sorry, Jen -- I don't mean to rant at you. I just get very worked up about this issue and I am beyond weary of the tactic of "studying the problem" but not actually doing a damn thing to address it, especially when, in many cases, there are existing laws that are not even being used that could provide a remedy.
I hope this study does some good, but I'm not holding my breath, and I will not accept anyone in authority putting off any actions to deal with the problem simply by saying "we're studying it". We already know it's a problem, so let's DEAL with it.
Again, I hope you choose to stick around, Jen -- looking forward to hearing more from you, and feel free to send me a "PM" (private message) at any time on any topic. Hang tough, m'dear -- you've got lots of "family" and friends out there, and some of them even post here.
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 1:07 pm Post subject: |
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Catholic School Boards Refuse Gay Bullying Study
| Quote: | Not all students will have the opportunity to participate, however. Three Catholic school boards in Ontario and Alberta have refused to co-operate with researchers and barred the survey. Helen Kennedy, Egale's executive director, expressed surprise at the Catholic boards' decisions:
| Quote: | | The study is not about sexual behaviour; it is about social behaviour. It's about bullying, harassment and taunting in our schools. |
[...]
Reverend Dennis Noon of the Wellington Catholic District School Board, who refused his students' participation in the study, told the media that homophobia was simply "not a big issue in Catholic schools".
Gee, where have I heard that before?
Having gone through the Catholic school system, I don't buy it. I'm not alone, either; Ontario's Minister of Education, Kathleen Wynee, expressed disappointment at the school boards' dismissal of the research, saying she hopes for more open conversations with the boards. |
Silly people. What Reverend Dennis Noon meant when he said that homophobia was "not a big issue in Catholic schools" is just that the school board is completely in favour of homophobia -- that's why it's "not a big issue".
Screw this mock "surprise" from Egale and "disappointment" from Ministers of Education. I expected nothing different from an institution that has persected our People for millenia and seeks to continue this behaviour in the present while dressing up its evil in the language of "morality". And if Egale or any Education Ministry expected anything else, they are myopic fools.
As I have said several times before, it's 'way past time for a separate school system for queer kids.
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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UK Minister launches homophobic bullying guidance
| Quote: | The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families has welcomed the launch of the first ever national guidance from the government to help schools tackle homophobic bullying.
Speaking at the official launch event of the guidance in London, Ed Balls said: "Bullying of any form is unacceptable we must uphold every child's right to learn in a safe and secure environment." |
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Hephaestion
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 9:30 pm Post subject: |
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re: "UK Minister launches homophobic bullying guidance"... I should'a read what Feral has to say about this first:
| Quote: | I'd get worked up about it, but I already did that. See... while everyone is prattling on and on (and on) about how this nifty new "guidance" is being "launched" this week, the thing was released back in September. It was. I got worked up about it then. In case you doubt me on that point... just ask the folks who wrote it.
| Quote: | New guidance from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) 'Preventing and responding to homophobic bullying in schools' was released in September 2007.
The groundbreaking guidance, written by Stonewall following a commission from the DCSF, provides school governors, heads, teachers and other staff with information about how to prevent and respond to homophobic bullying. |
Did you catch that "released in September 2007"? Thought so -- that's why I didn't bother to bold it at all.
You can run off and read it yourself if you like. You can make a wee bit of a contest out of it -- pour through its 140 pages and see if you can't find the bits that I find completely (and reprehensibly) unacceptable. |
*sigh*
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Hephaestion
Deeply Shallow
Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Posts: 24243
Location: Where the Wild Things Are...
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| Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 3:10 pm Post subject: |
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More harassment. This time by faculty, staff and school board:
ACLU lawsuit claim: anything gay illegal in Florida school
| Quote: | A Florida high school is "trampling the First Amendment rights of students who support equal rights for gay people", according to a federal lawsuit filed Thursday by the American Civil Liberties Union.
In its lawsuit, the ACLU describes what it calls an atmosphere of fear and censorship at Ponce de Leon High School, where the school board's attorney allegedly has said that expressions like a rainbow sticker may mean students are members of an "illegal organization."
[...]
The ACLU sent a letter in November to the school board1s attorney on behalf of Gillman, asking for clarification as to whether a variety of symbols and slogans, such as the rainbow flag or "I support my gay friends," would be allowed at the school.
The school district replied that it would not allow any expressions of support for gay rights at all because such speech would "likely be disruptive." The district then said that such symbols and slogans were signs that students were part of a "secret/illegal organization." according to the ACLU.
[...]
"Because the Supreme Court has held that students have a right to free speech at school unless that speech disrupts the educational process, many administrators think they can just slap the label 'disruptive' on anything they don't like and get away with stomping on students' First Amendment rights," said Benjamin James Stevenson, a staff attorney for the ACLU of Florida.
"The law doesn't work that way," said Stevenson. |
_________________
"The dignity of an animal is measured by his capacity to revolt in the face of oppression." -- Mikhail Bakunin |
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Hephaestion
Deeply Shallow
Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Posts: 24243
Location: Where the Wild Things Are...
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| Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 4:14 pm Post subject: |
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UK Charity welcomes landmark cyberbullying conviction
| Quote: | An anti-bullying charity has welcomed a landmark ruling on cyberbullying handed down by a court in Brighton.
A 17-year-old was convicted of harassment after creating a fake profile on the social networking site Bebo and driving his former friend to attempt suicide by luring him into an online relationship and then telling friends and teachers intimate details of their online conversations.
The 16-year-old victim, from Brighton, East Sussex, swallowed 60 painkillers. Brighton Youth Court was told the victim's life was saved by his mother, who took him to hospital.
The cyberbully, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty last month to harassment, and apologised in court on Monday to the victim.
He was given a 12-month referral order and told to pay his victim £250. The court also confiscated the his laptop. |
Oh goodness me -- 12 months AND £250 AND losing his laptop?! Oh, the ferociousness!
_________________
"The dignity of an animal is measured by his capacity to revolt in the face of oppression." -- Mikhail Bakunin |
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Hephaestion
Deeply Shallow
Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Posts: 24243
Location: Where the Wild Things Are...
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| Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 9:19 pm Post subject: |
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Anti-gay harassment project attacked by pro-family group
| Quote: | A pamphlet has been sent out to 16,000 schools across the United States in an effort to protect the well-being of students "at higher risk" because of their sexual orientation.
The 24-page pamphlet has been sent to all public school superintendents in a coalition led by the National Education Association (NEA) and American Psychological Association (APA).
The initiative has drawn criticism from national pro-family group the Family Research Council, who have said it is a "promotion of homosexuality" in schools. |
_________________
"The dignity of an animal is measured by his capacity to revolt in the face of oppression." -- Mikhail Bakunin |
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Hephaestion
Deeply Shallow
Joined: 11 Apr 2006
Posts: 24243
Location: Where the Wild Things Are...
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| Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:03 pm Post subject: |
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Queer student survey hits snags: Canadian school boards reluctant to take part
| Quote: | Egale Canada's student survey on homophobia is running into problems with Ontario school boards.
The school board in Thunder Bay, which had agreed to participate, has pulled out and the Toronto Catholic District School Board has refused to take part. Across Canada, only the Vancouver school board is taking part in the survey.
"It's a hindrance but I'm not surprised we have to work hard to get school boards to agree," says Catherine Taylor, the University of Winnipeg professor in charge of the project. "They're scared of touching this issue."
Helen Kennedy, Egale's executive director, says the problems are proof of the need for such a survey.
"The reality is if Egale is having this much trouble getting the survey into schools, imagine how tough it is for kids coming out," she says.
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Taylor says about 750 students have replied to the survey so far. About 200 replies were from Ontario and 291 from BC, including 190 from in-class replies. Taylor says that so far Alberta and the Maritimes are underrepresented. A Quebec survey will be available once francophone researchers are recruited.
Taylor says that an initial report and analysis will be available in mid-May, based on data collected to that point.
Taylor says she's already noticed the similarities in replies from across the country.
"I'm struck by how the same patterns are showing up from all areas of the country, in big cities and small towns, in every province," she says. "It's the same old song. Kids hearing names for their identity being used as synonyms for stupid 20 times a day, feeling it's not safe for them to come out." |
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"The dignity of an animal is measured by his capacity to revolt in the face of oppression." -- Mikhail Bakunin |
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