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NMHA News Release
December 12, 2002
National Survey of Teens Shows Anti-Gay Bullying Common in Schools
New NMHA Program Reaches Out to Parents to Help End Bullying
ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Bullying and other harassment towards gay teens
and teens who are perceived to be gay is widespread in America's
schools and communities, according to a new survey of teens sponsored
by the National Mental Health Association (NMHA), the nation's oldest
and largest mental health organization.
More than three-quarters of teens (78 percent) report that kids who
are gay or thought to be gay are teased or bullied in their schools
and communities. Nine out of ten teens (93 percent) hear other kids
at school or in their neighborhood use words like "fag," "homo,"
"dyke," "queer," or "gay" at least once in a while, with 51 percent
hearing them every day. Four out of five teen respondents said they
disapprove of the taunting.
"Bullying is unacceptable in any form," said Michael Faenza, NMHA
president and CEO. "When bullied, gay youth and those thought to be
gay face an increased risk for depression, anxiety disorders, school
failure and suicide, especially when they don't have a system of
support. Schools, community groups and parents share the
responsibility of preventing and stopping this prejudice."
NMHA has launched a nationwide program called "What Does Gay Mean?"
to help parents talk to their kids about such prejudice. The
centerpiece of the program is a brochure of the same name, written by
child psychiatrist Dr. Lynn Ponton, one of the country's top experts
on adolescent sexuality.
"Parents need to know that, gay or straight, their teens may face
anti-gay bullying," said Faenza. "Talking to your kids about bullying
and its consequences can protect them and other kids from this
damaging experience."
According to a 1996 study by the Safe Schools Coalition, three out of
four kids targeted by anti-gay bullies are heterosexual. Though all
children suffer from anti-gay prejudice, gay youth tend to suffer the
worst consequences. According to various studies, one third of gay
students are physically harassed due to their sexual orientation and
one in six is beaten badly enough to need medical attention. Compared
to straight kids, gay teens are four times more likely to be
threatened with a weapon at school, and three to seven times more
likely to attempt suicide.
"As parents we are often uncomfortable talking to our children about
issues of sexual identity," Faenza said, "but kids need to learn
about tolerance at home before they pick up intolerance on the
playground and elsewhere."
The brochure includes tips on how to talk to children of various ages
about people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender, and
offers resources on how to talk to their kids about sexual
orientation in a way that is consistent with their values.
As part of the "What Does Gay Mean?" program, local NMHA affiliates
nationwide are distributing the brochures and sponsoring educational
activities for parents and other caregivers. The brochure and other
program materials are available to families free of charge from the
NMHA Resource Center at 800-969-NMHA (6642) or at
http://www.nmha.org/whatdoesgaymean/ .
Survey Highlights
Students surveyed overwhelmingly oppose anti-gay bullying and
taunting. Only a minority support or accept this behavior.
*Nearly four out of five (78 percent) of teens reject expressions of
anti-gay bias and five percent of those say they try to stick up for
the kids who are targets.
*Four percent of teens say they participate in anti-gay bullying or
think that it is funny or justified, making comments such as "I don't
think much of it, we are just playing around."
*Eleven percent ignore it or don't care, saying for example, "I guess
I've grown to live with it."
*Other comments include "it makes me upset because even though they
might be gay or whatever, it doesn't give them the right to call them
those names," and "it's not fair because people are different than
others."
The NMHA survey was conducted by International Communications
Research (ICR) of Media, PA. ICR completed telephone interviews with
a nationally representative sample of 760 kids (ages 12-17) about
their experience with and opinions about anti-gay teasing and
bullying in their schools and neighborhoods.
The NMHA "What Does Gay Mean?" anti-bullying initiative is supported
by the David Bohnett Foundation, the Columbia Foundation, the R. Gwin
Follis Foundation, the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund, the Horizons
Foundation, Stephanie and Carter McClelland, SBC Communications and
the Tides Foundation.
The National Mental Health Association is the country's oldest and
largest nonprofit organization addressing all aspects of mental
health and mental illness. With more than 340 affiliates nationwide,
NMHA works to improve the mental health of all Americans through
advocacy, education, research and service.
Contact: Chris Condayan (703) 838-7551
ccondayan@nmha.org
"Always forgive your enemies...nothing annoys them quite so much." Oscar Wilde
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