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Education > Our Community Education Services
Anti Gay Bullying In Schools: Quick Facts
The following facts are compiled from recent releases of the National Mental
Health Association (NMHA), including results of their own survey of teens'
experiences of anti-gay teasing and bullying. The full survey is available on their
web site at
http://www1.nmha.org/newsroom/system/news.vw.cfm?do=vw&rid=474
78% of teens report that youth who are gay or thought to be gay are
teased or bullied in their schools and communities.
93% of the teens hear youth use words like "fag," "homo," "dyke," "queer,"
or "gay" at least once in a while, while 51% of them hear it every day.
According to a l996 study by the Safe Schools Coalition, three of four
youth targeted by anti-gay bullies are heterosexual.
Gay youth suffer the worst consequences of anti-gay bullying:
One of three gay students is physically harassed due to his or her
sexual orientation
One in six is beaten badly enough to require medical attention
They are four times more likely to be threatened with a weapon at
school
They are two to three times more likely to attempt suicide
28% drop out of school because of harassment
76% of parents want to discuss issues of sexual orientation with their
children but do not know how to do so. The booklet "What Does Gay
Mean? How to Talk With Kids About Sexual Orientation and Prejudice"
was developed to address this need. It may be obtained from
the web site of the National Mental Health Association
at
http://www.nmha.org/index.cfm?objectid=DE292B2D-1372-4D20-C8F3A2E5B306884B
or by contacting their Resource Center at 800-969-NMHA (6642).
Additional information can be obtained on this web site or by contacting Barbara
Bernstein our Director of Education and Training at
Bernsteb@mhawestchester.org
or by phone at 914 345-0700 extension 311.
Information about local events and resources can be obtained from GLSEN
Hudson Valley, a chapter of the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network, at
their web site: http://www.glsenhudsonvalley.org
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