A new nationwide poll of LGBTQ+ Gen-Z youth uncovered alarming rates of unreported bullying, with many not feeling safe or accepted by teachers.
The poll for the global children’s charity Theirworld paints a stark picture of the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ youth in the United States.
For example, a black lesbian woman from Ohio described school as “a place of dread rather than a place of learning”.
“As an LGBTQ+ individual in school, I faced a lot of challenges and discrimination,” she said. “I was often called derogatory names and the target of hurtful jokes, which made me feel isolated and unwelcome. There were times I was excluded from social groups and activities, making it hard to find a sense of belonging. Some teachers overlooked or dismissed my needs, and the curriculum rarely included LGBTQ+ topics, further marginalizing me.”
Key findings
- Prevalent bullying: Over half (52 percent) have experienced bullying, with 13 percent reporting they were bullied by teachers or administrative staff because of their sexual orientation. 29 percent reported their personal school experience as negative.
- Unreported bullying: 36 percent reported being bullied but not reporting it. Of those who did report it, half said that staff and teachers responded badly
- Unsafe school environments: 38 percent don’t think schools are safe environments for LGBTQ+ students.
- Lack of acceptance: Nearly half (49 percent) feel they are not often accepted by teachers and administrators.
- Personal safety concerns: A quarter (25 percent) of respondents feel personally unsafe in school.
- Missed school: 35 percent have missed school at some point because of bullying, with 25 percent missing classes in the past three months alone, specifically because of bullying and/or discrimination about their sexual orientation or gender identity.
- Respondents reported being hit, punched and teased.
- Others complained of teachers ignoring their concerns and deliberately misgendering them.
Poll: Breaking down bullying
- 64 percent reported verbal abuse
- 33 percent cited online abuse
- 26 percent faced threats of violence
- 25 percent said they had been purposely misgendered
- 12 percent reported physical abuse
- 12 percent reported being sexually assaulted
Global youth task force
To help combat these issues and help children feel safer in schools, Theirworld has launched a global youth task force on safe schools for LGBTQ+ youth.
The task force will focus on issues of safe campaigning in challenging contexts and allow LGBTQ+ youth leaders and their allies to have a powerful platform and network to advocate for more inclusive education policies in communities around the world.
“It unacceptable that LGBTQ+ youth continue to face bullying and discrimination in schools – the very place where they should feel secure and safe,” said Justin van Fleet, president of Theirworld.
“Schools must be inclusive environments where every child feels valued and respected.”
Theirworld is a global children’s charity committed to ending the global education crisis and ensuring that every child has the best start in life, a safe place to learn and the skills they need for the future.
About the poll
The poll was conducted online by Whitman Insight Strategies from June 17–21. The sample comprises a nationally representative audience of 1,008 LGBTQ+ Gen Z Americans (ages 16-27). The margin of error is ± 3.09 percent among LGBTQ+ Gen Z Americans at the 95 percent confidence interval.
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Crystal Graham
