Homophobia and Discrimination on

<strong>Homophobia</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Discrimination</strong> on Grounds of Sexual Orientation <strong>and</strong> Gender Identity in the EU Member States
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I.5. Education
This section examines bullying <strong>and</strong> harassment of LGBT youth in schools <strong>and</strong> its impact,
as well as the invisibility of sexual orientation issues in school curricula <strong>and</strong> culture.
As the European Commission has noted, ‘[t]here is considerable evidence of
discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in schools, primarily involving
homophobic bullying.’ 204 A study carried out by The Equality Authority in Irel<strong>and</strong> shows
that many LGB persons become aware of their homosexual orientation before the age of
fifteen, meaning that many LGBT persons often go through adolescence <strong>and</strong> school
knowing their sexual identity, leaving them potentially vulnerable. 205 Furthermore,
according to an ILGA-Europe study, 206 adolescence is a critical time in a person’s
socialisation, when “girls learn to be girls <strong>and</strong> boys learn to be boys”, i.e. when the
boundaries of gender expression <strong>and</strong> behaviour are influenced by others, including peer
group members, friends, teachers <strong>and</strong> family members.
Across the EU, the majority of National Equality Bodies, LGBT NGOs <strong>and</strong> public
authorities interviewed, identified <strong>and</strong> highlighted bullying <strong>and</strong> harassment, as well as
lack of representation of LGBT identities <strong>and</strong> issues, as key concerns in education.
Bullying <strong>and</strong> harassment of LGBT youth in schools
Comprehensive studies <strong>and</strong> surveys on homophobia, transphobia <strong>and</strong> discrimination of
LGBT persons in education provide some evidence in a number of Member States.
Interviews with National Equality Bodies, public authorities <strong>and</strong> LGBT NGOs in all 27
Member States showed that manifestations of homophobia are a major problem in
educational settings across the EU.
Comments from the guys didn’t bother me because that was just guys being guys. I
mean, it shouldn’t be that way but it doesn’t bother you because when you’ve heard it
about a million times you get to know it all <strong>and</strong> it’s just, you don’t think that is so
important for you. But the certain individual…did bother me because I don’t really
need someone who I thought was a friend commenting on my sexuality with loads of
others. So I mean, that did bother me <strong>and</strong> affected my studies because I was quite
angry <strong>and</strong> filled up about that individual. And I didn’t go to school for quite a while
because I was so angry with that individual. (Gay man, aged 17, London) 207
204 See Commission Staff Working Document accompanying a Proposal for a Council Directive on
implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability,
age or sexual orientation. SEC(2008) 2180, 2.7.2008, p 18
205 The Equality Authority (2002) Implementing Equality for Lesbians, Gays <strong>and</strong> Bisexuals, Dublin
206 J. Takács (2006) Social Exclusion of young lesbian, gay, bisexual <strong>and</strong> transgender (LGBT) people in
Europe, Brussels: ILGA-Europe <strong>and</strong> IGLYO
207 Fiona Colgan, Chris Creegan, Aidan McKearney <strong>and</strong> Tessa Wright, Lesbian, Gay <strong>and</strong> Bisexual Workers:
Equality, Diversity <strong>and</strong> Inclusion in the Workplace. A Qualitative Research Study,