Homophobic bullying
What is homophobic bullying?
Homophobic bullying is when a young person’s actual or perceived sexual orientation/gender identity is used to exclude, threaten, hurt, or humiliate him or her. Homophobic bullying can also be more indirect: homophobic language, and jokes around the school can create a climate of homophobia which indirectly excludes, threatens, hurts, or humiliates young people.
Homophobic bullying is a form of identity based and prejudice based bullying. Broadly speaking, it is motivated by dislike or ignorance about LGBT people. It can also be directed towards people who seem not to conform to traditionally male or female gender roles – for example, a boy who doesn’t like football and prefers dancing.
How are prejudice based bullying and homophobic bullying connected?
Homophobic bullying relates to a defining element of a person’s identity, targeting his or her ‘inner being’. Young people’s sexual orientations or gender identities are not a choice but an innate part of who they are, and homophobic bullying is similar to sexist bullying or racist bullying in that it is a form of identity based bullying.
Homophobic bullying fits under the umbrella of prejudice based bullying, which targets young people because of who they are or who they are perceived to be. This can be on the grounds of age, disability, gender (including gender identity), race, religion or belief and sexual orientation. Other grounds for prejudice based bullying might include carer status, social class, looked after or accommodated status or asylum seeker/refugee status. Young people can also be bullied for being perceived to belong to one or more of these groups, or for being associated with a member of one or more of these groups.
Is homophobic bullying experienced differently from other forms of bullying?
All types of bullying differ both in the motivations behind them and in the way that young people experience them. Homophobic bullying has its own particular roots and expressions and is experienced in particular ways by young people.
Young people often do not disclose bullying for a range of reasons. Identifying as LGB or
T is often an ‘invisible’ difference and some young people who experience homophobic bullying keep quiet because disclosing the bullying is equivalent to telling somebody that they are LGBT or that somebody thinks they are. When there is fear or expectation of rejection it is less likely that a young person will disclose what is happening to them. In addition, homophobic bullying can be experienced by people who are not LGB or T but are perceived to be.
Why address homophobia and homophobic bullying specifically?
Specifically addressing homophobia and homophobic bullying demonstrates a commitment to making visible and challenging this particular form of discrimination. Different types of bullying involve different considerations and different approaches. Addressing homophobia and homophobic bullying, alongside other types of bullying, can help to highlight that these are specific and significant issues for the whole school community.
Is ‘that’s so gay’ homophobic?
Yes it is, whether the intention behind it is homophobic or not. The phrase ‘that’s so gay’ and the word ‘gay’ are common in all youth settings. ‘Gay’ in this sense means something that is rubbish, inferior, pathetic – exactly what some people think of others who identify as gay.
This phrase can be used without malice or understanding but it can still have a negative impact on LGBT young people who hear it used in this way, and it can still establish a connection between the word ‘gay’ and ‘bad’ amongst younger pupils. Acknowledging that this language has homophobic consequences regardless of intention, and challenging and exploring its use with pupils, can limit the damage which it can do.
Do all young people who experience homophobic bullying identify as LGBT?
No, any young person can experience homophobic bullying. Those who do are not necessarily LGB or T. People who can experience homophobic bullying include:
- LGBT young people
- young people who are perceived to be LGBT
- young people with LGBT family and friends
- young people who are seen as different and do not conform to traditional gender roles
- any young person at all
Who should challenge homophobia and homophobic bullying?
Challenging homophobia and homophobic bullying is the responsibility of everyone who wants to be part of the school community in which all young people are supported and included. It is the responsibility of teachers and other members of school staff under the leadership of school senior management, the local authority and national government. It is young people’s responsibility as well. Although this can be difficult they can be enabled in this through accurate information, support and encouragement from school staff and a range of anti-homophobia work in the school from which to learn.