how to support sexual diversity in schools

Introduction

Attitudes towards sexual diversity in Australia have undergone remarkable change in the last 10 years. Gay men and lesbians experience greater social acceptance and less discrimination than in the past.

More public identities have been willing to be open about their sexuality. Despite these changes, a young person who is same sex attracted, or who thinks they might be, cannot be sure of their reception – at home or at school. Research tells us that 60% of same-sex attracted young people experience abuse, and that the greatest amount of the abuse (74%) occurs at schools. These figures do not represent the impact of living with a background ‘soundtrack’ that being gay is wrong, and being heterosexual is the only right way to be. Nor have we measured the impact of abuse on young people who are not necessarily same sex attracted but who fall outside of accepted gender stereotypes.

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