Anti-Bullying Activists from the LGBTQ Community
There is widespread acceptance of the fact that LGBTQ individuals are at an increased risk of being bullied.
Physical and verbal bullying is especially evident for LGBTQ students in schools. Many youth in the LGBTQ community report not going to school based on a fear of being bullied. This behaviour puts these students at risk for anxiety and depression, suicide, increased drug and alcohol use, and lower economic and social status because they drop out of school. A survey by Stomp Out Bullying reported that 9 out of 10 LGBTQ youth report being bullied at school.
Cyberbullying is when someone uses technology to harass, threaten, embarrass, or target another person. This behaviour is also occurring more frequently with the same results.
Many organizations and programs have been created to address bullying toward the LGBTQ community. The Trevor Project and GLSEN in the United States are perhaps the most prominent of the organizations, and Kids Helplines are an example of a specific program that is highly successful.
Students and school officials have responded by creating schools' Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) groups. Faculty advisors have been appointed as a resource for the students. Strict anti-bullying policies have been created and enforced, and resources have been put in place to support LGBTQ youth. There is a marked reduction in bullying reported by students when such programs have been put in place.
Adult bullying and harassment is a growing occurrence. Personal insults, aggressive behaviour, threats, public shaming, and unwanted personal contact can be evidence of this. There are similar mental and physical outcomes for victims as are experienced by bullied youth.
We have identified several LGBTQ individuals advocating against bullying toward the community.
Australia
- John Caldwell, anti-bullying advocate
- Ian Thorpe, founder of the Ian Thorpe Foundation for children's causes
Canada
- Jeremy Dias, founder of Jer's Vision, an organization with a mandate to stop school bullying
- Gordon Dunbar, researcher in anti-bullying education
- Jamie Hubley, student activist who committed suicide after school bullying
- Brendan McFatridge, anti-bullying advocate
- Dany Morin, politician and anti-bullying advocate
- Chevi Rabbit, founder of the Hate to Hope campaign
- Linda Schuyler, producer of the television series 'Degrassi'
France
- Gabriel Attal, founder of the Faire Face school bullying action group
Great Britain
- Mark Abrahams, introduced the army's anti-bullying strategy and campaign
- Elly Barnes, founder of Educate and Celebrate
- Rikki Beadle-Blair, documentary and short-film producer
- Liam Hackett, founder and CEO of Ditch the Label anti-bullying group
- John Yates Harold, pioneer of Stonewall's anti-bullying campaign
- Christian Webb, anti-bullying activist
Scotland
- Fergus McMillan, founder of respectme, an anti-bullying service
United States
- Billy Bean, Vice-Chair of Stand-Up Foundation
- Gabriel Blau, anti-bullying activist
- Mark Brill, co-creator of the anti-bullying comic book 'The Power Within'
- Charles 'Zan' Christensen, co-creator of the anti-bullying comic book 'The Power Within'
- Silas House, anti-bullying activist
- Kevin Jennings, founder of GLSEN to combat bullying
- Kin4life, hip hop duo fighting bullying
- Sharon J. Lettman-Hicks, advisory member to Be A STAR: Show Tolerance And Respect, a national anti-bullying initiative
- Anayvette Martinez, founder of Somos Familia youth activist group
- Jamey Rodemeyer, activist who committed suicide after school bullying
- Dan Savage, anti-bullying advocate
- Phillip Spaeth, actor and anti-bullying activist
See Also
- School Teachers, Researchers and Education Staff Who Identify as LGBTQ
- Government Ministers of Education and Schools Who Are LGBTQ