A study involving more than 30,000 children and young people aged 5 to 18 discovered that 80% of secondary-age children and 78% of pupils aged 9 to 11 say they hear homophobic language.
Many hear homophobic slurs being used as a joke, the use of “gay” as an insult, and many cite social media, especially TikTok, as a common source.
The survey was undertaken in June by Votes for Schools and published by LGBT+ charity Just Like Us.
Now with LGBT+ History Month taking place in February, Just Like Us is promoting its free, online, CPD-accredited teacher training on anti-LGBT+ bullying in primary and secondary schools.
Previous research from the charity found that 43% of LGBT+ pupils report being bullied compared to 21% of straight students (Just Like Us, 2021).
The teacher training for primary school staff explores the experiences of LGBT+ young people, children with LGBT+ parents, LGBT+ parents themselves, and children who are subject to anti-LGBT+ bullying, and helps teachers create a plan to apply in their own school setting.
For secondary school staff, the training draws on the experiences of young people growing up LGBT+, discusses approaches for tackling and preventing anti-LGBT+ bullying, and helps staff to start to create a plan to apply available tools.
One of the LGBT+ young people Just Like Us works with said: “When I was growing up, there was a lot of ‘gay’ being used as an insult and there was a lot of negativity towards the LGBT+ acronym.
“I think it’s really important for everyone to know that when homophobia and transphobia goes unchallenged, it sets a very negative culture and tone where it kind of seems as if this language is acceptable.”
Laura Mackay, chief executive of Just Like Us, said: “Anti-LGBT+ bullying is a common reality still in many schools right across the UK and we’re currently seeing a fresh wave of homophobic language, even in primary schools. It’s time teachers had the free training and tools to identify and tackle this confidently.
“Teachers have the power to create safer, more inclusive spaces where every child can be themselves without fear. This training is not just about policies and practices, it’s about making sure no young person feels alone, isolated, or bullied for who they are.”
- Just Like Us: School staff can access the free teacher training courses by signing up via https://justlikeus.org/lgbt-teacher-training/
- Just Like Us: Growing up LGBT+, 2021: https://justlikeus.org/blog/2021/11/25/research-report-growing-up-lgbt-bullying/