Harassment of LGBT+ students needs to stop & here's why...

Photo by Christian Sterk on Unsplash

54-percent of Maltese LGBT+ students are bullied in schools and only 10 percent of those choose to report it. This comes as a shock especially when Malta has forbade discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, sexual characteristics and gender orientation in education. In 2015 Malta also introduced measures to safeguard the education rights of LGBT+ students, that is the right to "an education free from violence, harassment of discrimination".

It is not unheard of that students pick on one another on the basis of their sexuality or more specifically, their gender. Boys' playground insults often include words like "gay" or "sissy" therefore implying that a male having feminine qualities is not the norm and is therefore wrong. In a questionnaire given to secondary school students in Glasgow, it was found that a majority of boys experience bullying both as perpetrators and as victims. 

As mentioned above, when we speak of gender-based harassment we refer to suggestive comments,  jokes, insults, pictures, emails, texts, snapchats and other, sent by bullies intruding into the personal lives of the students themselves. This type of harassment is illegal in a number of countries around the world but unfortunately these problems pursue and often don't come from adults or parents but from the students.

In practice, LGBTI students are unlikely to report violence against them and seek help for various reasons: they fear not being taken seriously; that nothing will be done ; that reporting will make things worse; or are reluctant to disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity.

This lack of reporting means that students are not comfortable in their educational environments and is leaving a psychological impact. The result of bullying is often self-harm or in the worst of cases suicide and now that it is almost 2019, innocent students cannot keep losing their lives over the miseducation of others.

So what can be done? A lot of schools, even in Malta, provide support structures through the National School Support services. This support includes class involvement and meetings with students affected by violence and/ or their families. The support services also help teachers and other forms of educators to better understand the issues related to gender identity, giving special attention to give better support to transgender and intersex students. 

Online support is also one of the most popular ways of providing and receiving support however Malta has not identified to provide LGBT+ inclusive information and resources on ministry websites and other education bodies. 

However it is not enough to teach the educators but we have to educate the students. Students have to be thought that it is not acceptable to bully students based on their sexuality or their gender. They must be thought to choose their words wisely. While stoping bullying or swearing among students is impossible, it is possible to keep gender out of it. Additionally, this education must be brought home to the parents. Many parents imprint certain behaviours onto their children and it is known that this happens in relation to certain homophobic tendencies. 

"13 Reasons Why"

"The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina"

Educators have to start opening their eyes more to the situations in front of them. The TV series' "13 Reasons Why" and "The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" have highlighted the fact that some teachers and educators are blind to the bullying that goes on in their schools and as a result it keeps going on with horrible results. 

Any form of bullying or harassment is unacceptable and should be put to a stop, and if the law cannot control it then we need to take matters into our own hands and try and create a better environment in schools for individuals who have a different sexual orientation or gender identity or anyone for that matter. Students should go to school to receive education and not life-long psychological problems.

If you are being bullied or harassed and need to talk to someone please call 25983494. If you are not in Malta please contact your local bullying helpline or talk to someone you trust and never be afraid to ask for help.