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Anti-bullying policies that specifically include actual or perceived sexual orientation gender identity, or expression do matter! Here is new data from research that everyone should know.
The American Education Research Association issued a new report [1] recommending best practices and policies for schools to address college bullying. The findings were organized into 11 brief reports. The “Bullying and Peer Victimization Among Vulnerable Populations” report examines bullying dynamics among the LGBTQ population. The following is the report’s summary about how bullying affects lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals and possible solutions to help LGBTQ students feel safer at school. Here are a few key excerpts.
State of the Knowledge About Bullying Among LGBTQ Students:
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A large percentage of bullying among students involves the use of homophobic teasing and slurs (Espelage et al., 2012; Poteat & Espelage, 2005; Poteat & Rivers, 2010).
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Bullying and homophobic victimization occur more frequently among LGB youth in American schools than among students who identify as heterosexual (Espelage, Aragon, Birkett, & Koenig, 2008; Kosciw, Greytak, & Diaz, 2009).
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Some LGB youth report greater depression, anxiety, suicidal behaviors, and truancy than their straight-identified peers (Espelage et al., 2008; Robinson & Espelage, 2011).
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However, peer victimization does not appear to explain all of the mental health disparities between LGB and heterosexual youth (Robinson & Espelage, 2012).
Effective Services and Programs for Preventing and Intervening in Bullying for LGB Students
Russell, Kosciw, Horn, and Saewyc (2010), in their Social Policy Report article “Safe Schools Policy for LGBTQ Students,” highlight four practices that have been shown to promote safety and well-being for LGBTQ youth in schools:
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School nondiscrimination and anti-bullying policies that specifically include actual or perceived sexual orientation gender identity, or expression
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Teacher training and ongoing professional development on how to intervene when homophobic teasing occurs
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Presence of school-based support groups or clubs (e.g., gay-straight alliances)
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Inclusion of LGBTQ role models or issues in school curricula, including bullying-prevention programming and access to information and resources through the library, school-based health centers, and other sources
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