Homophobic Bullying
Tags: BeLonG To, bullying, Homophobia, homophobic bullying, Ireland, Mary McAleese, school, shOUT, suicide Just writing the headline for this article makes my heart sink. It conjures up visions of kids and teens ignored, picked on and/or beaten up in that most tyrannical of places; school.
What can be a more damning illustration of a society than young, terrified people getting no support from their elders?
Those amazing young people in shOUT (NUIG’s LGBT Society the LGBT youth group for Galway city) and BeLonG To are at the forefront in challenging homophobic (and transphobic) bullying in our schools. The national forum on homophobic bullying took place in NUI Galway on Wednesday and Thursday this week, and culminated in an address by the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese.
The fact that McAleese was at the forum at all shows just how far we have come in Ireland. No longer are gay people as a community ignored in Ireland, we are seen and, sometimes, heard.
But if the community-at-large is seen, young LGBT people are still, at best, invisible and, at worst, terrorised.
President McAleese noted the high rate of suicide in Ireland and made the point that homophobic bullying is a factor in these figures. The gay community silently shouted “Finally!”. When we hear of a young person left so desperate that they take their own life, we are shaken. It’s impossible not to be. But it’s time something was done. While phone support services are vital, so is getting to the root of the issue. Homophobia is one of the roots.
Homophobic bullying doesn’t, however, just affect LGBT youth. It affects any young person who is seen to be ‘different’. If a boy isn’t into sports he’s ‘gay’, if a girl is she’s ‘gay’. Most times the actual sexuality of the person isn’t the issue, it’s the perceived difference that gives bullies an excuse to make homophobic taunts.
There are two issues here; why is difference seen as a weakness and why is it ok to use the word ”gay” to jeer this difference?
Young people, and teenagers in particular, are pack animals and anyone seen to be brave enough to run in their own direction, needs to be pulled down. It’s horrible, and I have no answers for it.
In school, one possibility would for teachers to step in and stop the slagging. They usually do, but here are with another problem in homophobic bullying.
Teachers don’t have to do anything. Seriously. If it’s a Catholic school, which most are in Ireland, they could be fired if seen to promote a sexuality which is against the religious ethos of the school.
And herein lies another rub. Homophobic bullying isn’t just confined to schools. Adults suffer from it too. In work, there are ‘fag’ and ‘dyke’ jokes thrown around. We are, however, protected by legislation and are, in theory, stronger and more able to stand up for ourselves than our youth.
People bully because they hate themselves, not the person they are terrorising, but knowing that doesn’t make it any easier to deal with.Hopefully, with forums like BeLonG To and shOUT’s recent endeavour, and by the existence of groups like them, life can get easier for all of us.
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In an unlikely co-incidence, Labour Equality are holding a conference tomorrow, with the morning session focussing on inequality in education. There will be speakers addressing disability, ethnicity and LGBT issues (for the sake of transparency, I should say that I’ll be delivering the presentation on the inequalities faced by LGBT people in education), with John Baker of UCD doing a closing speech on the broader topic.
That session will take place from 11am-1pm in the Teachers Club tomorrow, and all are welcome (there’ll be equality training and some other events taking place int he afternoon).
[...] President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, spoke out about homophobic bullying at a forum organised by lgbt youth group BeLonG To, in Galway. She said, “Homophobic bullying [...]
hey, just wanted to let you know that ShOUT is actually the LGBT youth group for Galway city, which was formed with the help of BelongTo, whereas GiGSoc (http://www.gigsoc.nuigalway.ie/) is the NUIG LGBT society. I know I’m noticing this way after the fact, but nevertheless.
Hey up, ebby!
Oops, apologies for the error – I’ve just edited the post to reflect that. (And sure, tis no worries – better late than never..!) And congrats once again on the sterling work you’re doing. Having come out through a youth group (BeLonG To’s predecessor, OutYouth) – and having made so many good friends there, many of whom are still in my life – I can attest to the importance of the likes of shOUT and BeLonG To. You’re changing lives! (And if that sounds corny and clichéd, it’s only because it’s true!)
Thanks for dropping by and letting us know!
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