Nearly one in ten GLBT students in New Zealand do not feel safe at school, one in four feel safe only "sometimes", and over one in ten are bullied on a weekly basis, according to analysis of data from a nationwide survey of 114 schools. GLBT youth advocacy group Out There released the research findings today along with a safety kit for schools. Out There spokesperson Sarah Helm said the kit provides schools with a positive model to deal with homophobic bullying. “We knew from experience that non-heterosexual students were facing harassment and bullying, but the study confirms the extent of the issue. It is unacceptable that any young person should feel unsafe attending school,” she says. “Schools have to take responsibility for ensuring their students' safety.” The information was taken from an analysis of non-heterosexual respondents' data in the Youth 2000 survey, which covered 114 schools. The launch of Out There's safety kit will be held today at Parliament, hosted by transgender Labour MP for Wairarapa, Georgina Beyer.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Friday, 18th February 2005 - 12:00pm