from Lesbilicious:
The largest ever survey of LGBT students in the USA has revealed that the majority regularly experience harassment as a result of their sexuality.
A survey of 6,209 middle and high school students (aged between 13 and 21) found that 86% had experienced harassment at school in the past year, 61% felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation and 33% had skipped a day of school in the past month because of feeling unsafe.
In addition, 86% of LGBT students reported being verbally harassed, 44% had been physically harassed and 22% had been physically assaulted at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation. 74% had heard derogatory remarks such as ‘faggot’ or ‘dyke’ frequently or often at school.
The report, entitled The 2007 National School Climate Survey, was put together by GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.
“The 2007 National School Climate Survey reveals that, on a whole, the situation is still dire for many LGBT youth when it comes to school safety,” GLSEN Executive Director Kevin Jennings said. “It’s hard to believe that anyone who reads this report could continue to turn the other way as our nation’s LGBT students are bullied and harassed at alarming rates.
“The good news is there’s hope. The 2007 National School Climate Survey also shows that when schools and educators take action, they can make a drastic difference.”
Students in schools with a Gay-Straight Alliance reported hearing fewer homophobic remarks a experienced less harassment and assault because of their sexual orientation and gender expression. They were also more likely to report incidents of harassment and assault to school staff, were less likely to feel unsafe because of their sexual orientation or gender expression and were less likely to miss school because of safety concerns and reported a greater sense of belonging to their school community.
Only a third of students reported having a Gay-Straight Alliance at their school.
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