Homophobia is gay

At Cardiff’s Mardi Gras Festival, the Welsh Lib Dems’ youth wing IR Cymru is launching a campaign against homophobic bullying in schools. Here, Vice Chair Ollie Townsend explains why.

As you read this a teenager is attempting to kill themselves.

They have put up with the taunts for long enough. They have dealt with the bullies targeting them and their siblings for a year. At times, the bullies follow them to the toilets and shout things through the cubicles. Sometimes they are forced against a wall while someone places a knife at their throat. Sometimes they are sexually assaulted and left terrified and tormented. Sometimes it is just a look of contempt. Those looks build up though, insignificant at first, before turning into something they cannot ignore. Into every class they walk, they are watched. There is laughter when they sit down. They have to pluck chewing gum from their hair. They try not to let the pain show when they see rude names carved onto their metal pencil case.

You know what makes it worse? They tried to get help. Only unlike lots of bullied teenagers, they could not go to their parents. Sometimes when they approached a teacher, the teacher would ignore them, or tell them it did not matter.

Why is this teenager now alone in their room, crying to themselves and wondering why nobody cares? Why are they asking themselves why they have been left without support, without protection, without friendship?

The answer is quite simple. They are gay. These are the stories of teenagers bullied for being who they are, bullied for their sexuality.

65% of LGBT teenagers have been bullied while at school, 75% of those at a faith school. Of those bullied, 12% have been sexually assaulted. 17% have suffered death threats. 41% have suffered physical abuse. Only 8% have escaped verbal abuse, and all because of their sexuality.

The statistics become more harrowing, 50% of those bullied have contemplated suicide, 40% had attempted it. 30% attempted suicide on more than one occasion.

The final shocking statistics: only 6% of schools have a specific policy to deal with homophobic bullying. Those few that did have them saw incidents of homophobic bullying fall by 60%.

This year, starting at Cardiff Mardi Gras, the newly invigorated Ieuenctid Rhyddfrydol Cymru (Liberal Youth Wales) is launching a Welsh version of the successful “Homophobia is Gay” campaign.

We are calling on the Welsh government to take immediate action to stop this appalling neglect. As education policy is devolved, we have the perfect opportunity to make a real change for Welsh LGBT teenagers – changes that can make our society a better, fairer, more equal place.

We are asking the government to issue compulsory homophobic bullying guidance to all schools whether state, public or faith. This guidance would be reached via consensus between experts like Stonewall, teachers’ and head teachers’ unions, and of course, students themselves.

This campaign has a real chance of working, of making life better for LGBT students and pupils. It has received the support of Gofal Cymru and NAHT Cymru, and we are approaching other organisations every day. If you want to join them, get in touch.

So, if you are thinking of heading to Cardiff Mardi Gras tomorrow, do support our campaign by visiting the Lib Dem stand and signing our petition. We’ll keep you posted on developments here on Freedom Central.

Imagine being able to say to that teenager still suffering as you read this, “Don’t worry. We’re helping. You’re not alone any more.” 

You can stop the hate. We can stop the hate.

Ollie Townsend is the Vice Chair of IR Cymru/Liberal Youth Wales and blogs at Cardiff Student Lib Dems.

Related posts:

1. Homophobia is gay
2. AMs join fight against homophobia with Liberal Youth Wales
3. Young Lib Dems’ fury at Welsh Assembly’s neglect on homophobic bullying