Bullied Gay Students Less Likely To Attend College Study Shows

Doug Windsor
December 8, 2003
Reprinted with permission by 365Gay.com | Visit Site

by
365Gay.com Newscenter
New York Bureau

Posted: 2:02 p.m. ET

(New York City) There is a direct relationship between in-school victimization, grade-point averages, and the college aspirations of gay students according to a report released Monday in New York.

The 2003 National School Climate Survey was prepared for GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network. It shows that more than 4 out of 5 LGBT students have been verbally, sexually or physically harassed at school because of their sexual orientation.

"This year's findings clearly demonstrate that despite modest measurable gains, violence, bias and harassment of LGBT students continues to be the rule, not the exception, in America's schools," said GLSEN Executive Director Kevin Jennings.

The report shows that LGBT youth who suffered significant verbal harassment are twice as likely not to go to college and their GPAs are significantly lower (2.9 vs. 3.3).

24.1 percent of LGBT students who cannot identify supportive faculty report they have no intention of going to college. That figure drops to just 10.1 percent when LGBT students can identify supportive staff at their school.

The survey also found that LGBT students who did not have (or did not know
of) a policy protecting them from violence and harassment were nearly 40 percent more likely to skip school because they were simply too afraid to go.

84 percent of LGBT students report being verbally harassed because of their sexual orientation. 82.9 percent of students report that faculty never or rarely intervene when present.

"This research reveals what must be inherent to so many educators and
parents: harassment has a negative impact on LGBT students' academic performance and college ambitions," said Jennings.

"To ignore these numbers is an irresponsible message to all students that any promise of equal access to education remains forged and fictitious."

Jennings also said the report should be a wake-up call to the 41 states which do not have policies protecting gay students.

The bi-annual report is the only national survey to document the experiences of LGBT students in America's schools and has been conducted since1999. This year's survey includes responses from 887 LGBT middle and high school students from 48 states and the District of Columbia.