Last Updated on 13th May 2024
It’s Pride Month in the UK, which marks the celebration of and focus on LGBTQ+ communities. It is also an important time to shed light on the difficult everyday situations which many young people who are exploring their sexuality or who identify as LGBTQ+ find themselves in.
According to the NSPCC, children and young people in the LGBTQ+ Community may ‘experience homophobic, biphobic or transphobic bullying or hate crime’. In addition, children and young people who are discovering their sexual identity may be more at risk of grooming and being encouraged to take part in underage sexual exploration.
Education is key. Understanding the context of their lives and lived experiences empowers us all with a greater level of understanding on how we can protect and support them. We have gathered some key statistics from national reports to illustrate the lived experiences of children and young people who identify as LGBTQ+.
LGBTQ+ respondents are less satisfied with their life than the general UK population
While the national average is 7.7 out of 10, respondents who are LGBTQ+ rated their life satisfaction as 6.5 on average. There are many reasons why LGBTQ+ people may experience lower life satisfaction than their peers. Reasons can include anti-LGBTQ+ messages in the mainstream media, bullying, violent hate crime and other forms of discrimination. It is believed these issues contribute to higher rates of poor mental health and substance use within the LGBTQ+ community.
4 in 5 transgender young people (84%) have self-harmed
Young people who identify as transgender are subject to sustained bullying in schools, with 46% ‘frequently’ or ‘often’ hearing negative comments about trans people and their gender identity or experiencing physical violence. 45% of trans young people have attempted to take their own life. Recent findings suggest 68% of young people who identify as LGBTQ+ have also experienced suicidal feelings, compared to 29% of non–LGBTQ+ peers.
At least 2 in 5 young people who identify as LGBTQ+ have experienced a hate incident
These include verbal harassment, intimidation, and physical or sexual violence. More than nine in ten of the most serious incidents are unreported, often because “it happens all the time.”
45% of LGBTQ+ pupils in the UK are bullied at school
Less than a third of bullied LGBTQ+ pupils say teachers intervened during bullying. Seven in 10 LGBTQ+ pupils (68%) report that teachers or staff only ‘sometimes’ or ‘never’ challenge homophobic, biphobic and transphobic (HBT) language when they hear it. Those entrusted with safeguarding children and young people should take the lead in tackling HBT. This would promote inclusivity and acceptance within schools and helps young people who are exploring their sexuality and / or those who identify as LGBTQ+ feel protected by those in positions of power.
1 in 10 trans pupils will receive death threats from other pupils
One pupil responding to the Stonewall report in 2017 said, “I was threatened to have my throat slit open in class right in front of a teacher and nothing was ever done. They gave me no help.” The UK government estimates that there is at least one trans pupil in each year group. It is the responsibility of every teacher and caregiver to foster a safe school environment for all pupils. This is essential for the health, wellbeing, and development of the next generation.
Whilst children and young people of the LGBTQ+ Community may face different adversities, it is possible to help mitigate these by providing support and understanding. Research has shown that acceptance and support from peers and family help provide protective factors against depression, drug misuse and self-harm amongst the LGBTQ+ youth. Support, such as family affirmation, can have incredibly positive effects on self-esteem, general wellness, and acts as a ‘buffer’ against poor mental health.
The importance of representation cannot be understated. 52% of LGBTQ+ pupils reported that seeing other members of the LGBTQ+ community around their school makes the most positive difference in their daily lives.
How can schools provide a supportive environment?
Real examples of how schools support their LGBTQ+ pupils:
How can you support a child or young person in the LGBTQ+ community?
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