Respectme

Homophobic bullying is mainly directed towards young people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) or young people who are questioning their sexuality. Bullying behaviour can also be directed at young people who are perceived to be different for not conforming to strict gender norms - for example, a boy who doesn't like football - or a girl judged to have a ‘male' fashion sense.

Ultimately, any young person can experience homophobic bullying and any young person can display homophobic bullying behaviour if negative attitudes, language and behaviour remain unchecked.

For some LGBT young people, homophobic bullying does not end at the close of the school day and home is not a refuge. Often, families can be unsupportive or hostile when they think that their child is gay or when their child ‘comes out' to them.

Barriers to telling that bullying is taking place:

• Telling about the bullying will mean that a young person has to effectively ‘come out' to you and many young people are not ready to do this
• Many young people don't think it's worth it - they assume that professionals won't understand homophobic bullying and the issues that they are facing and may, in fact, be homophobic themselves. Some young people are disillusioned by responses they have received in the past and feel that homophobia is not taken as seriously as other types of bullying
• A prevailing culture of ‘Heterosexism' - where there is a wide assumption that everyone is ‘heterosexual' can heighten a sense of difference towards LGBT young people and promote the idea that they do not have the same rights to protection from bullying as others
• Some young people think that the homophobic bullying they are experiencing is not serious enough to report - to them, and some of their peers, negative attitudes and verbal abuse are simply part and parcel of being LGB or T

Good Practice in Challenging Homophobic Bullying:

• Developing a culture of awareness and understanding towards LGBT issues within your organisation will create a safer and more positive environment where LGBT young people can feel more confident about reporting bullying
• Staff training raises capacity to support LGBT young people more effectively and builds skills and confidence to address bullying
• Negative attitudes towards LGBT people are often expressed through language. Education about appropriate LGBT terminology promotes understanding and a basis for driving the message that homophobic bullying is never acceptable
• Access to confidential support and peer mediation are very important to young people who are being bullied and feel uncomfortable about ‘coming out'