Blogger #5: Bullying LGBTQ youth

LGBT Youth and the Bullying they endure:

Part One

• An article from the University of New Hampshire by Paul Cody, titled: "Bullying and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/ Questioning Suicide"

https://www.unh.edu/counseling-center/article/bullying-and-lgbtq-suicide


The author, Paul Cody, talks about the issues among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth being subjected to bullying, harassment, and hate crimes across the nation. He talks about how heterosexual and non gender-variant children who can grow up without the hassle of society condemning their choices. But unlike heterosexual and cis-gender adolescents, queer and transgender youth not only go through life with a higher chance of rejection at home, they grow up with the rejection of their peers, teachers, and many of the communities they come from. Queer youth are subjected to the kind of harassment in school that is dictated as a social norm. Paul Cody points out that if we, as adults, were a victim to the hate speech and violence inflicted upon LGBTQ children, we would call the police. But instead of calling for help these children are only bashed more. People can not be taught a sexuality but they can be taught to hate. The article mentions that some politicians and religious leaders devalue the lives of LGBTQ people, and this is only mimicked by school bullies. "Some families model hate." Which makes it seem like the bullying of someone based on their sexual orientation is normal.

The rejection and bullying of LGBTQ youth has given them a higher suicide rate than heterosexual and cis-gender teenagers. It is also mentioned in the article that queer youth have a higher suicide rate of 2-4 times higher than heterosexual children. If you were put through harassment, physical violence, taunting, and rejection from the majority of your classmates, would it drive you to suicide? For the young men mentioned in the first paragraph of the article, the bullying not only destroyed these lives but it claimed them.

Paul Cody was right when he said "A teacher only saying 'Don't do that' does not effect the situation. Consequences change behavior." Our educational system should not be an outlet for children to bash their peers, especially not for something as harmless as being themselves. Bullying LGBTQ people cannot continue to be the social norm in our schools.



Part Two