Young gay pupils still suffering ‘daily nightmare’ of bullying, report claims

More than half of lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils have been bullied because of their sexuality, according Stonewall’s new study.

It reveals that homophobic language is rife, with 96 per cent of gay pupils reporting that they had heard comments such as “poof” or “lezza” used in schools.

Almost all (99 per cent) of the more than 1,600 young people questioned said they had heard classmates saying phrases such as “that’s so gay” or “you’re so gay”.

While over half of gay pupils had faced verbal abuse, around one in six (16 per cent) had been victims of physical abuse, and almost a quarter (23 per cent) experienced cyberbullying, the School Report 2012 found.

But Stonewall also raised concerns that the bullying is being unchecked by schools.

Around three in five lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils who had been bullied due to their sexuality said teachers who witness the abuse do not step in to stop it, the report reveals.

Just one in 10 of those surveyed said teachers challenged homophobic language every time they hear it.

Stonewall chief executive Ben Summerskill warned it was unacceptable that many gay young people are facing a “daily nightmare” of bullying, and said it was “deeply worrying” that this often goes unchallenged.