Research Shows Virginia Schools Are "Hostile" to LGBT Students

Yesterday GLESEN released survey results that indicate that eighty percent (80%) of students reported hearing anti-gay slurs from students and staff and also face physical and verbal assaults because of their sexual orientation. Frankly, the findings are no surprised to me. When the Governor and Attorney General and the majority of Republicans in the General Assembly actively support anti-gay bigotry in their policies and statement opposing anything that would remotely improve the lives of LGBT citizens, it is no surprise that the mind set carries over to public school students and school staff and administrators. As the sad case of Christian Taylor in Yorktown reveals, far too many school administrators do nothing to curb anti-gay bullying and threats of violence. The irony, of course, is that behind this nightmarish situation are the hate-filled "Christians" at The Family Foundation and other Christianist who I suspect will find their own reserved seats in Hell on Judgment Day. Here are highlights from coverage in the Virginian Pilot:
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More than four-fifths of Virginia students polled said hearing homophobic slurs in Virginia middle and high schools is commonplace, according to a data compiled by a gay rights organization. That's one of the findings released Tuesday by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, a group dedicated to sexual orientation equality in school settings.
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The survey results also indicate students face physical and verbal assaults because of their sexual orientation and regularly hear anti-gay slurs from students and staff.
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Among the conclusions drawn by the survey are: 85 percent of gay students regularly heard homophobic remarks; 37 percent were physically harassed due to their sexual orientation; and 21 percent were physically assaulted.
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It also found that while most students could identify at least one supportive educator, very few had access to other gay resources or curriculum at school.
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"This research clearly shows there are pervasive challenges to the safety of all of our youth . . . we are working with both young people and educators to address hostilities in their schools," said David Hish, chair of the GLSEN Northern Virginia Chapter.
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All of this just so self-congratulatory bitches like Victoria Cobb at The Family Foundation and bastards like Ken Cuccinelli and Bob Marshall can feel superior and good about themselves. It's disgusting and one of the reasons I advise LGBT individuals considering a move to Virginia to think twice about coming here. If circumstances were different, I'd have left the state years ago. (To enlarge, click on the image below)