While societal support of LGBTQ persons is growing, as demonstrated by rising acceptance of same-sex marriage, the fact remains that LGBTQ youth continue to be vulnerable to discrimination and hostility. In the recently released National School Climate Survey by Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN), more than half of LGBTQ youth reported dangerous or unsafe middle and high school climates.
These students face outright hostility, as well as lack of support. For example:
– 74 percent were verbally harassed in the past year, with 65 percent hearing homophobic remarks like “fag” and “dyke”;
– More than one third were physically harassed because of their sexual orientation and 22 percent because of their gender expression;
– 61 percent of those who reported an incident said that school staff did nothing in response.
Without a safe and supportive environment, students and their academic performances suffer. As a result of feeling unsafe or uncomfortable, nearly one third of LGBTQ students missed at least one day of school in the past month, and 10 percent missed four or more days in the past month, according to the survey.
[For more of this story, written by Cece Cox, go to http://lgbtqblog.dallasnews.co...w-report-shows.html/]
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