California Educator

MARCH 2011

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Startling stats on GLBT bullying Think GLBT harassment isn’t a prob- lem at your school? Think again. Nearly nine out of 10 GLBT students reported ex- periencing harassment on campus, while two-thirds reported feeling unsafe because of their sexual orientation, according to “The 2009 National School Climate Sur- vey” by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Edu- cation Network. The suicide rate of GLBT continues to be three to four times higher than that of their straight counterparts. In some parts of the country, GLBT runaways may com- prise up to 40 percent of the entire teen homeless population. Key findings of GLSEN’s most recent survey of 7.621 middle and high-school age students include: > Because of their sexual orientation, 84.6 percent of GLBT students reported be- ing verbally harassed, 40.1 percent re- ported being physically harassed, and 18.8 percent reported being physically assaulted at school in the past year. > Because of their gender expression, 63.7 percent of GLBT students reported being verbally harassed, 27.2 percent reported being physically harassed and 12.5 percent reported being physically assaulted at school in the past year. > 72.4 percent heard homophobic re- marks, such as “faggot” or “dyke,” fre- quently or often at school. > Nearly two-thirds (61.1 percent) of GLBT students reported that they felt unsafe in school because of their sexual orientation, and more than a third (39.9 percent) felt unsafe because of their gender expression. > 29.1 percent of GLBT students reported missing a class at least once and 30.0 percent reported missing at least one day of school in the past month because of safety concerns, compared with only 8.0 percent and 6.7 percent, respective- ly, of a national sample of secondary school students. > The reported grade point average of students who were more frequently ha- rassed because of their sexual orienta- 18 California Educator | MARCH 2011 Ups and Downs of GLBT Bullying Suicide Rate Depression & Anxiety GPA 2.7 The suicide rate of GLBT stu- dents continues to be three to four times high- er than that of their straight counterparts. Increased lev- els of victim- ization were related to in- creased levels of depression and anxiety and decreased levels of self- esteem. The reported GPA of students who were more frequently harassed was almost half a grade lower than for students who were less often harassed (2.7 vs. 3.1). Being out in school had posi- tive repercus- sions for GLBT students such as higher levels of psychological well-being. Coming out at school was related to higher levels of victimization Psychological Well-Being Victimization tion or gender expression was almost half a grade lower than for students who were less often harassed (2.7 com- pared with 3.1). > Increased levels of victimization were related to increased levels of depres- sion and anxiety and decreased levels of self-esteem. > Being out in school had positive and neg- ative repercussions for GLBT students. Coming out at school was related to high- er levels of victimization, but also higher levels of psychological well-being. Source: “T e 2009 National School Climate Survey” by GLSEN 85% 61% 40% 19% reported being verbally harassed reported they felt unsafe in school reported being physically harassed reported being physically assaulted By the numbers Because of their sexual orientation

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