Bullying and Harassment against LGBTQ+ Students

The LGBTQ+ is a group which has those that identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and those who have yet determined their sexuality, among many others. Along the years they have been able to achieve accomplishments such as being able to get marriage equality, to diminish discrimination and to fight for rights they aren’t allowed. While this is great and certainly helpful, there is one thing that is sometimes ignored, and that’s how the youth that belong to this group are discriminated in well school. There is reason for people to try and help these youth, whether it’s little or small, any help would be useful to these kids.

The LGBTQ+ community is one that still isn’t one that has equal rights and that’s still discriminated, there has been major steps forward but, at the same time there is still discrimination among those that belong to the youth portion of the group. But the big problem in this is that the youth of this group is not only discriminated but along with that they deal with so much that may not be understood by those without the experience of going through these things, while certainly one doesn’t have to be part of the LGBTQ+ group to feel on being shunned and seen as different. The major problem is what the discrimination and bullying can lead to. Not only does it lead to anxiety, depression and stress related disorders during the time that they experience that could come along with that bullying, but it could affect them for the rest of their lives. That could not only affect them with those certain people but with others such as family, new friends, co-workers, and possibly everyone.

There are studies showing that a major part of transgender, gay and lesbian part of school population face discrimination. Not only that a large part of the LGBTQ+ population also has a higher chance of having anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts or that have thought of commiting suicide or have tried attempting suicide. Not only at that, they face higher chances of being harassed at school by their fellow students at could possibly face some sort of discrimination from faculty and staff, those who are meant to help them instead of making them feel worse. Many of those who get discriminated do face uncertainty and unsafe of attending school just for these things which could affect them even more. These students have higher chances of stress related disorders along with that of other disorders that can affect the way they think and act as stated earlier(Almeida, Joanna, et al. ‘Emotional Distress among LGBT Youth: The Influence of Perceived Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation.’ Journal of Youth and Adolescence, vol. 38, no. 7, 2009, pp. 1001-14. elibrary. ). The major problem in this is that it’s all caused by discrimination, while the LGBTQ+ community isn’t seen as a big community it is important that they are treated the same as any other person is treated for their sexuality, without this there could be a possible chance that these kids could go with their lives without having a stress related disorder or that could be cause by the stress and anxiety that discrimination forces upon them. And while the world may not see this as something bad due to belief, why should millions of people be discriminated for something that isn’t a decision such as the color of our skin isn’t a decision or who we are is a decision. But what we can choose is how we choose to help those who are discriminated and how we help to choose the ways we fight for them instead of fighting against them in their fight for equality over the years and for however longer they must fight for not only themselves but for others that face discrimination as well among everyone who they choose to affiliate themselves with.

While their seems to be nothing that helps these youth members, there is in fact quite a couple of things that do help. Such as Title IX which supposedly bans discrimination based on sexual preference,or whether they fit in to a stereotype of either gender and whether the person is mistreated for being male or female, under federally funded institutions, title IX has helped those who have been discriminated and harassed in court allowing for them to protect themselves in those court cases that were called for upon being discriminated, such as court cases “Jackson v, Birmingham Board of Education, 544 U.S. 167 (2005).” and “Franklin v. Gwinnett County Public Schools, 503 U.S. 60 (1992).”(“Faces of Title IX.” TitleIX.info – Athletics,www.titleix.info/Faces-of-Title-IX/Meet-the-Faces-of-Title-IX/Supreme-Court-Stories.aspx.) Title IX has been established since 1792, this law was established by quote for “Educational programs and activities that receive ED funds must operate in a nondiscriminatory manner. Some key issue areas in which recipients have Title IX obligations are: recruitment, admissions, and counseling; financial assistance; athletics; sex-based harassment; treatment of pregnant and parenting students; discipline; single-sex education; and employment. Also, a recipient may not retaliate against any person for opposing an unlawful educational practice or policy, or made charges, testified or participated in any complaint action under Title IX. For a recipient to retaliate in any way is considered a violation of Title IX. The ED Title IX regulations (Volume 34, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 106) provide additional information about the forms of discrimination prohibited by Title IX.”(“Title IX and Sex Discrimination.” Home, US Department of Education (ED), 25 Sept. 2018, www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/tix_dis.html.) Along with that court case that was called upon for not allowing a student wear a t-shirt that was deemed sexual by a school due to it stating that “Jesus is not homophobic, in the court case of Maverick Couch v. Wayne local school district (2012) the court case was ruled as the following “Maverick Couch v. Wayne Local School District, Ohio, resolved 2012 Maverick Couch wore a T-shirt to his high school with a rainbow Ichthys, or “sign of the fish,” and the words “Jesus Is Not a Homophobe” in observation of GLSEN’s National Day of Silence. The principal called Maverick into his office and told him to turn the T-shirt inside out. Maverick complied, but he wore it again the following day and was told to remove it or face suspension. When he next wrote to request permission to wear it, he was again threatened with suspension. School officials argued that the shirt was “sexual” in nature. Lambda Legal sued on Maverick’s behalf. Wayne Local School District and Principal Randy Gebhardt agreed to have judgment entered against them in an order affirming Maverick’s right to wear the shirt whenever he wants, and awarding him $20,000 for damages, costs, and attorney’s fees.”(“Couch v. Wayne Local School District.” Lambda Legal, 3 Apr. 2012, www.lambdalegal.org/in-court/cases/couch-v-wayne-local-school-district.)

More closely in the La Joya Independent School District under the student handbook under mistreatment of others it states that students are not to harass others based on sexual or gender based harassment “Mistreatment of Others Students shall not: Use profanity or vulgar language or make obscene gestures. Fight or scuffle. (For assault, see DAEP Placement and Expulsion.) Threaten a district student, employee, or volunteer, including off school property, if the conduct causes a substantial disruption to the educational environment. Engage in bullying , cyberbullying, harassment , or making hit lists . (See glossary for all four terms.) Release or threaten to release intimate visual material of a minor or a student who is 18 years of age or older without the student’s consent. Engage in conduct that constitutes sexual or gender-based harassment or sexual abuse , whether by word, gesture, or any other conduct, directed toward another person, including a district student, employee, board member, or volunteer. Engage in conduct that constitutes dating violence. (See glossary.) Engage in inappropriate or indecent exposure of private body parts. Participate in hazing . (See glossary.) Cause an individual to act through the use of or threat of force (coercion ). Commit extortion or blackmail (obtaining money or an object of value from an unwilling person). Engage in inappropriate verbal, physical, or sexual conduct directed toward another.”(ISD, La Joya. “Handbooks & Policies.” La Joya Independent School District, www.lajoyaisd.com/32481_1.) While this may be one school district in one state, there are many other school districts that protect these kids, maybe not as much but are slowly working toward working with equal treating of LGBTQ+ kids.

Although there are many court rulings against the youth population of the LBTQ+ group, despite not having equality among them and “normal” kids, there has been so much that has helped work toward a better place for these kids to see it as others students see it, without the bullying and harassment. While this group isn’t the biggest or the most thought of, that doesn’t mean they don’t have the same rights as anyone else in the schools that they go to, they all deserve the same amount of respect and treatment every other student gets.

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