LGBT pupils still experience high rates of school bullying
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) pupils are still experiencing high rates of bullying in schools and are not confident about reporting the abuse to staff, according to campaigners.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) pupils are still experiencing high rates of bullying in schools and are not confident about reporting the abuse to staff, according to campaigners.
The LGBT Youth Scotland charity says homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying can have a devastating impact on young people, including poor mental health and low confidence and self-esteem.
Bullying at school can also cause them to leave education early.
LGBT Youth Scotland said its research goes on to show transgender youngsters have a particularly difficult time at school and face even higher levels of bullying than their LGB peers.
The organisation has teamed up with the Time for Inclusive Education campaign to highlight the issue and demand further action.
Coinciding with anti-bullying week, the campaigners are calling for strong leadership from schools and local authorities.
They said there is good work being carried out but are demanding more guidance and resources for teachers, and improved regulation and inspection of schools over the bullying of LGBT pupils.
Megan McIntyre, a member of LGBT Youth Scotland's national youth council, said homophobic bullying is not always taken seriously.
She said: I had to move school because they wouldn't deal with bullying at all. Once I moved, my new school wasn't much better.
As a result, my attendance dropped as I didn't want to be there. I wasn't in a good place.'' Fergus McMillan, the charity's chief executive, said:
We want to see an education where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) young people report feeling included in their school, have their lives reflected in the curriculum and are free from homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying.
We, therefore, support the principles of the Time for Inclusive Education campaign and call on school leadership and policymakers at all levels to focus on fully implementing the Equality Act (2010) to eliminate discrimination and promote equality of opportunity for all.''
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: The Scottish Government is clear that all bullying, including prejudice-based bullying, is unacceptable.
Respect for All, the refreshed national anti-bullying strategy for children and young people, which has been developed in collaboration with organisations including LGBT Youth Scotland and Stonewall Scotland, will take a holistic approach to tackling this issue.
Last week, the Deputy First Minister (John Swinney) wrote to the Scottish Parliament's Equalities and Human Rights Committee to welcome their input into the process and agreed to put the publication on hold to allow for meaningful engagement.
We have also committed to a programme of teacher education on equality for all new, guidance and promoted teachers, providing funding where necessary and have updated relationship teaching guidance.''