One in five LGBT students in Florida schools have been physically assaultedâ┚¬â€Âfor example, punched, kicked or injured with a weaponâ┚¬â€Âbecause of their sexual identities.
That's according to a Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) report released July 6.
The majority, about 4 out of 5 students, were called names or threatened because of their sexual orientation and 3 of 5 said they were verbally harassed because of how they expressed their gender.
They also reported other forms of harassment, with 84% saying they've been deliberately excluded by their peers, 82% reporting they'd had mean rumors or lies told about them, 70% sexually harassed, 49% having had property damaged or stolen and 47% experiencing online bullying.
Of those experiencing various forms of harassment, 64% never reported it to school officials and 56% never told a family member. Of those who did report their incidents to school staff, 28% said that it resulted in staff intervention.
According to the report, Florida schools are tough on LGBT students in more indirect ways, as well. Nearly all reported hearing the word â┚¬Å”gayâ┚¬Â used in a negative way, with about 90% reporting other homophobic remarks, such as â┚¬Å”fagâ┚¬Â and â┚¬Å”dykeâ┚¬Â used as insults. The verbal harassment didn't just come from students: 27% reported that they regularly heard staff make negative remarks about someone's gender expression and 22% heard homophobic remarks from staff.
In light of all this negativity toward LGBT students, GLSEN reported that most of the victims don't have access to in-school resources and support. Only 1 in 10 attended schools with a comprehensive bullying policy that protected against harassment based on sexual identity or gender harassment. Most LGBT students could name a supportive school staff member, but only 47% could name six or more. Finally, many students had no access to an LGBT-inclusive curricular and extra-curricular activities. Just 41% of students surveyed attended a school with a Gay-Straight Alliance, and only one in 10 said they were taught positive representations of LGBT people, events and history. Three in 10 students reported that they could access information on LGBT communities via school internet.
