Homophobic bullying is on a spectrum of bullying. There have been recent media reports showing that charities working with children in Wales were concerned about the extent of bullying in Welsh schools. There is undoubtedly a general problem, not only in Wales, but across the UK and homophobic bullying is part of it.
Any headteacher who tells you that there is no bullying at their school is not aware of what is going on. Any headteacher who does not believe that there is the potential for homophobic bullying at their school is not living in the real world.
I do not believe that they are denying it maliciously; many heads are so overstretched in so many ways that they are not even aware of it. However, they should be made aware of it, and it is important that the government continues to play its part in ensuring that that happens.
The statistics speak for themselves: 65 per cent of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) teenagers have been bullied while at school, 75 per cent of those at a faith school. Of those bullied, 12 per cent have been sexually assaulted, 17 per cent have suffered death threats, 41 per cent have suffered physical abuse. Only eight per cent have escaped verbal abuse, and all because of their sexuality.
The statistic become more harrowing: 50 per cent of those bullied have contemplated suicide, 40 per cent had attempted, 30 per cent attempted suicide on more than one occasion.
The final shocking statistics: only six per cent 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 per cent.
Last year, starting at Cardiff Mardi Gras, the newly invigorated Ieuenctid Rhyddfrydol Cymru (Liberal Youth Wales) launched a Welsh version of the successful ‘Homophobia is Gay’ campaign. Liberal Youth Wales and I 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.
The IR Cymru campaign has been under way for some months, and I congratulate them on this initiative. From the outset, these young students have been reaching out to a variety of groups and areas for support, including other political parties. Indeed a cross-party campaign is beginning to grow.
They have achieved a broad consensus for action in this area, and I am proud that they have gained support for the campaign from many organisations and unions across Wales. All these organisations have expressed broad support for the campaign to introduce guidance on dealing with homophobic bullying in secondary schools and colleges. Having such an inclusive coalition of groups is a sure sign that this issue is of vital importance and has resonance.
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.
There are more figures and statistics and behind each one of those, they tell a different story of a teenager or even teachers suffering at the hands of their peers. With the issuing of this guidance, we would have the first real chance to reach out to help those who are suffering and show that the Assembly is ready and willing to use its influence to give them the protection that they need. It also gives us a chance to give our schools the tools and the input that they need to battle the terrible epidemic of homophobic bullying.
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