116. Don't send them if they may be gay

116. Don’t send them if they may be gay
School is not a safe place for gay people. Harber C p48

Narrow gender stereotyping makes victims of those who are different. ‘Gay’ is used as an insult, a term of abuse. (John Nixon “Lessons in loneliness” Guardian 1/10/05) Homophobic bullying is rife in schools (Harber C p48), and in society at large. Stonewall estimates that 60,000 gay and lesbian people are victims of homophobic abuse from name-calling to serious physical and sexual assault. (Guardian 4/7/06:”Schools campaign will tackle homophobic bullying” Katherine Demipoulos) One victim recalls “It is the constant taunts and torment, day after day after day. It just chips away at you, until there is nothing left.” (Nixon article) Homophobia is described by Phil Beadle as “the last acceptable prejudice”. He states that “British schools are the final bastion of homophobia and the problem is even worse in faith schools” (Beadle P “Battle to beat the last acceptable prejudice” Guardian 20/01/09)

According to a 2001 study 85% of lesbian, gay and bisexual youngsters experience bullying at school. (Beadle P “Battle to beat the last prejudice” Guardian 20/01/09) The stress drives many to attempt suicide. Bullycide claimed that 4 out of10 gay schoolchildren attempt suicide or resort to self-harm. (p222) Nixon puts the figure at 2 out of 10 who attempt suicide.
Many gay young people are afraid to complain about their plight. Those that do have their bullying dismissed by teachers. (Bullycide and Nixon) and find themselves being blamed for their torment.

There is a good chance that the teachers they complain to are also homophobic. When I trained to teach, in our group of 16 trainees, there was one gay guy and two severely homophobic men who despised and avoided him. On his work placement in a group of older heterosexual men, he was shunned and badly treated.

Sex education is to become compulsory. Where it is currently carried out there is confusion and embarrassment on behalf of teachers when it comes to discussing gay relationships. In 2003 clause 28 was repealed. This clause had banned the promotion of homosexuality by local authorities. In spite of its repeal its effects still reverberate. In 2005 Nixon claimed that local authorities are still confused about whether or not they can claim homosexuality is a valid alternative. Because of this teachers were still being intimidated over what they could or could not say about homosexuality. (Nixon article)

For the 10% of pupils who are gay, or those who have gay parents, this invalidates who they are. If who you are, your origins and life are constantly denied or disparaged then the ability to become a whole, functioning person will be adversely affected.

Gay teachers do not escape either. Taunting by pupils is dismissed. It may be especially difficult, if teachers are not ‘out’ among their colleagues. This could easily be the case when colleagues express their homophobia in the staff room.