LGBTQ Bullying Awareness
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LGBTQ Bullying Awareness

Posted in: Bullying

Bullying is never okay. No matter who, what, or where. Bullying stems from the idea that being different is wrong and inferior. Just because someone looks different than you, acts differently, and believes in opposing ideas doesn’t mean you have a right to treat them as less than. Each and every person deserves to be respected.

According to the Center for Disease and Control, bullying is defined as any unwanted aggressive behavior, involving power imbalance and repetitive harm. This can amount to anything like kicking, name-calling, spreading rumors, and internet bullying. Bullying is worse in middle school and high school than other grade levels. For lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth, that number jumps to 40%. GLAAD reports high levels of bullying for LGBTQ youth. Unfortunately, many students who identify other than straight don’t feel safe in school, 56.7% of students not even reporting their negative experiences because of doubts to receive help. For LGBTQ students, bullying is common; verbal harassment at 74.1% for sexual orientation, 55.2% for gender expression, and physical harassment at 36.2% for sexual orientation.

It is clear that we need to do better at showing our love and support for students of all backgrounds and orientations. The point to focus on here is that it is okay to disagree with someone. You do not have to be okay with someone’s sexual orientation or gender expression, BUT you do need to respect them and love them. LGBTQ students are people just like you and me, and deserve nothing less than love, respect, and kindness. Accept differences and learn to love in spite of them.