Last month, the homophobic attack on the gay trainee police officer James Parkes in Liverpool, highlighted the serious issue of homophobia in the UK. James, 22, was attacked by up to 20 teenagers, who left him with multiple skull fractures. All of James’ attackers were either in, or had recently left the UK education system.
The attack on James Parkes wasn't an isolated incident. On September 25, 62 year old Ian Baynham was attacked in London's Trafalgar Square in another homophobic attack, Ian died as a result of his injuries. Two 18 year old girls and a 20 year old man have been charged with manslaughter. Once again, they had only recently left the UK education system.
Those charged with the murder of 18 year old Michael Causer in Liverpool last year were also 18 and had only left school 2 years earlier. The murder was investigated as a homophobic incident.
The worrying connection between the age of the perpetrators in these brutal homophobic attacks and the UK education system has led Paul Martin, Chief Executive of The Lesbian & Gay Foundation, to comment: “Increasingly, those responsible for homophobic attacks are of school age or have recently left school. What message is being sent to them that it is acceptable to attack others because they may be different?"
Have your kids experienced homophobic bullying in schools?
According to Stonewall's School Report 65% of young lesbian, gay and bisexual people reported experiencing homophobic bullying schools.
Josh Booth, 20, experienced homophobic bullying when he was at school, he also makes the link between what goes on at school and what's happening in the wider community, he says: "Whenever I would go to a teacher to report homophobic incidents it always seemed to be brushed under the carpet and nothing was really done about it. Homophobic bullying should be challenged more openly in schools like in Assembly in front of the whole school year rather than just in an office, because then it would show the bullies that the school does take homophobia seriously. I think so many attacks happen on young LGB people on the streets because the perpetrators think they will get away with it as they did at school."
Do teachers know how to tackle homophobic bullying?
Another piece of research by Stonewall, The Teachers Report, highlights that many teachers do not feel confident enough to discuss LGB&T issues. The report highlights that "two in five teachers and non-teaching staff at secondary and primary schools would not feel confident in providing pupils with information, advice and guidance on lesbian and gay issues."
Siân Payne, Policy and Research Officer at the Lesbian and Gay Foundation says; “Young people aren’t learning that it’s unacceptable to be homophobic. Most of the teachers that are in schools now are the children of Section 28. What that means is that there is an uncertainty about how to approach the issue. Challenging homophobia needs to be ingrained in Teacher Training programmes, which at the moment they are glaringly absent from. Teachers have a responsibility here, but first we need to teach the teachers to know how to sort it out."
Ways forward?
Josh feels that schools can do some pretty easy things to make them a more welcoming environment for LGB pupils: "I think it's really important for young LGB people to see positive representations of gay and bisexual people in schools because then it would show us that being gay isn't something to be ashamed of. Having things like posters and discussions, where we can see and hear about ourselves in school, would make us feel accepted and part of the school and that we weren't being shut out from the other pupils."
This is just one of the reasons why The LGF want to get their Aim High Guide into UK schools to support and inspire LGB young people and show them that they can achieve, just like Russell T Davies has, just like Beth Ditto has, just like Sir Ian McKellen has. Aim High highlights that your sexual orientation is not a barrier to you succeeding and allows 20 high profile LGBs who have excelled in their field, the opportunity to share their stories of how they made it to the top of their professions and inspire young gay people.
A number of projects across the country like Exceeding Expectations, Schools Out, EACH, and Education for All, are doing great work challenging homophobia in schools, but this Anti-Bullying Week we need to call on all schools to sign up to a zero tolerance policy on homophobic bullying in schools. To call for a zero tolerance approach to homophobic bullying, contact Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools, and Families, by clicking here.
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