While the acceptance of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community is broadening, it is worthwhile to note that the battle will continue to rage on for many years. One battle that should face more scrutiny in the eyes of society is the protection of LGBT youth.
In 2007 GLSEN (Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network) conducted a study that showed that 86 percent of LGBT youth face harassment at school.
In that same study, 32 percent of students reported skipping school just so they wouldn’t have to face harassment; 44 percent reported being physically attacked; and 22 percent of students said they’d experienced even stronger violence. The scariest part? Sixty-four percent of students said they didn’t report the attacks, and the 34 percent of students that did report said the school did nothing in response. And what happens as a result? Twenty-eight percent of kids stop going to school entirely, and even worse they are two to three times more likely to commit suicide.
We, as a society, need to do more to protect our LGBT youth. It cannot be acceptable to us that their suicide rates are higher than non-LGTB kids, or that they get no support from the education system that is supposed to protect them. Respect is not a privilege, it’s a basic human right that everyone deserves. Who you love or what you present as should not determine whether you receive this or not.
Noelle Ortiz
Monroe
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