Students sue over anti-gay bullying.

Students sue over anti-gay bullying

All students have a right to a safe learning environment at school - whether they are gay, straight, or whatever.

But in this particular US school, there are some cases where the right to be 'safe' at school is denied to them due to some 'loophole' which prevented teachers from intervening where such kids were being bullied (either because they were gay, or because they looked gay).

It reminds me of times when someone at school (here in Australia) had been called a 'poofter' (if they were guys) or a 'lemon' (ie 'lesbian', 'lezzo', 'dyke', if they were girls).

For a 'straight' (ie 'non gay') person like myself, it can sometimes be funny to call someone 'gay'.  Especially if you yourself can be on the recieving end of sexial harassment (or assault) of a homosexual nature.

But even if you aren't gay, being on the 'recieving end' of this anti-gay bullying is no joke.    I have myself been on the recieving end, both at school and even in a supposedly 'adult' envioronment, like the workplace.  And I have also witnessed other people I had known well be on the recieving end of it themselves (and it is especially difficult if you see them come home in tears, because other people have repeatedly 'ganged up' on them and threatened to bash them up).

And it is even worse if someone you know who has been bullied for being 'effeminate', be actually sexually harassed and even possibly sexually assaulted in the toilets.  This is especially hard when you want to help, but they don't want to talk about it because they are either 'ashamed' or embarrassed, or they are afraid to tell you because they think you might make fun of them also. 

But you hope they will at least tell someone - like their parents, the cops or the teachers at the school.  Noone should have to go through it alone.  I know if it was me, I wouldn't want to.

cheers,
Night Owl