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Do Today’s LGBTQ Kids Have It Any Easier?

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Ten Years Later, Homophobic Bullying Slowly Decreasing but Still at Epidemic Levels, GLSEN Report Finds

Almost seventy-five percent of all middle and high school students have personally experienced some form of peer victimization in the past year, according to a new study released Wednesday by GLSEN. The study, “From Teasing to Torment: School Climate Revisited A Survey of U.S. Secondary School Students and Teachers,” examed school climate across middle and high schools in the United States and revisited many of the topics covered in GLSEN’s original 2005 survey of the same name.

More than one in five students reported being bullied because of their gender expression (21.9%). And nearly one in five (19.4%) reported being bullied because of their real or perceived sexual orientation. And while it comes as no shock that bullying is still at epidemic levels, what may be surprising to some is that while the majority of these incidents are bias-based bullying (bullying based on personal characteristics), more students reported being victims of bullying based on their looks or body size (50.9%) and actual or perceived race (30.3%). 

There are a number of findings that show the climate for LGBTQ students is slowly improving across the country. Less than a quarter (22%) of all students report hearing negative comments about gender expression, and while the most common insult is still “that’s so gay” (55%), only 14% report having heard negative remarks about transgender people. Still, “42.9% of students heard other homophobic remarks (e.g., ‘faggot,’ ‘dyke,’ ‘queer’) often or very often,” the report states.

LGBTQ students more likely to be bullied or harassed based on actual/perceived sexual orientation

Two-thirds of LGBTQ students were more likely to be bullied or harassed based on actual/perceived sexual orientation than their non-LGBTQ peers. LGBTQ students were also more likely to experience sexual harassment, having rumors/lies spread about them, property damage, and cyberbullying than their non-LGBTQ peers.

Sexist and racist remarks still run rampant; 56% of students say they “often/very often” hear sexist remarks in school and many even hear sexist comments from their teachers (20.6%) while one-third (36%) reported hearing racist remarks from students. 14.4% students report hearing their teachers make racist comments. 

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According to the report, about 4 out of 5 students reported that a teacher was in hearing range when encountering these types of harassment. Unfortunately, the results of the survey show that even when given a clear opportunity to intervene and put a stop to certain types of bullying without much effort, over 70% of teachers chose not to. Students fared no better – only 20.1% of student respondents said other students jumped in to put an end to homophobic bullying. 

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92% of all students experience some form of bullying

While the GLSEN report shows that school climate has certainly improved over the past decade, it’s still incredibly disheartening to know that an estimated 92% of all students experience some form of bullying based on personal characteristics such as actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, body size or appearance, or academic ability.

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Geographic area and student age do have an impact on the type of bullying and harassment students will encounter. High school students are more likely to experience bullying based on race, and students in rural schools were more likely to experience bullying based on sexual orientation. Students in the West are the less likely to experience these types of bullying.  

LGBTQ Students, Female Students, and Black/African-American Students Report Not Feeling Safe at School

A large majority of students – almost 9 out of 10 students – reported feeling “safe” or “very safe” at school. Those who reported not feeling safe at school were, unsurprisingly, LGBTQ students, female students, and Black/African-American students. 

On a hopeful note, the survey found that many students were able to find safe spaces and like-minded friends and safety in extra-curricular activities, and club participation often followed the same demographic patterns. White, cisgender boys were more likely to participate in clubs such as ROTC or play on sports teams, while LGBTQ students gravitated towards gay-straight alliances (GSA), arts programs, or diversity clubs. 

The majority of GSAs can be found in schools in the West and the Northeast. Schools in the South are least likely to have a GSA, as are religious schools and middle schools. The need for a GSA in every school is clear, though. Schools with a GSA report far fewer negative, anti-LGBTQ remarks by students and teachers. Students don’t even need to participate in the GSA for it to have a positive impact on the school – that it simply exists is enough to change school climate for the better.

‘LGBTQ Students Still Face Rates of Violence Much Higher Relative to Their Peers’

In the preface of the report, Eliza Byard, GLSEN’s Executive Director, puts the report’s results into perspective;

Overall, bullying still persists at unacceptable levels, and the gains of the past ten years throw the more intractable aspects of the problem into higher relief. LGBTQ students still face rates of violence much higher relative to their peers. Teachers report that they are less comfortable and less prepared to address the harsh conditions faced by transgender and gender nonconforming students. And amidst progress in reducing the use of most types of biased language in schools, racist language remains as prevalent as it was a decade ago.

Above all, we must forcefully reject any efforts to turn back the clock in this urgent battle. Bullying must never again become societally acceptable. We must sustain our national commitment to ending discrimination in education, including having effective ways to require schools to address the bias that can poison students’ daily lives.

The Harris Poll, in partnership with GLSEN, conducted online surveys reaching 1,367 middle and high school students and 1015 secondary school teachers in the United States. The full report, “From Teasing to Torment: School Climate Revisited A Survey of U.S. Secondary School Students and Teachers,” can be downloaded here.

 

Image by Gordon Lew via Flickr and a CC license

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News

‘Antisemitism Is Wrong, But’: Marjorie Taylor Greene Pilloried for Promoting Antisemitic Claim

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May 1, 2024

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U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) was strongly criticized Wednesday after promoting a historically and biblically false, antisemitic claim while declaring antisemitism is wrong.

As the House voted on an antisemitism bill that would require the U.S. Dept. of Education to utilize a certain definition of antisemitism when enforcing anti-discrimination laws, the far-right Christian nationalist congresswoman made her false claims on social media.

“Antisemitism is wrong, but I will not be voting for the Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2023 (H.R. 6090) today that could convict Christians of antisemitism for believing the Gospel that says Jesus was handed over to Herod to be crucified by the Jews,” Greene tweeted.

The definition of antisemitism the House bill wants to codify was created by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.

Congresswoman Greene highlighted this specific text which she said she opposes: “Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis.”

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What Greene is promoting is called “Jewish deicide,” the false and antisemitic claim that Jews killed Jesus Christ. Some who adhere to that false belief also believe all Jews throughout time, including in the present day, are responsible for Christ’s crucification.

Greene has a history of promoting antisemitism, including comparing mask mandates during the coronavirus pandemic to “gas chambers in Nazi Germany.”

Political commentator John Fugelsang set the record straight:

“If only you could read,” lamented Rabbi Dr. Mark Goldfeder, Esq., CEO and Director of the National Jewish Advocacy Center. The Antisemitism Awareness Act “could not convict anyone for believing anything, even this historical and biblical inaccuracy. It only comes into play if there is unlawful discrimination based on this belief that targets a Jewish person. Do you understand that distinction @RepMTG ?”

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“Not surprising,” declared Jacob N. Kornbluh, the senior political reporter at The Forward, formerly the Jewish Daily Forward. “Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has been accused in the past of making antisemitic remarks — including her suggestion that a Jewish-funded space laser had sparked wildfires in California in 2018, voted against the GOP-led Antisemitism Awareness Act.”

Jewish Telegraphic Agency Washington Bureau Chief Ron Kampeas, an award-winning journalist, took a deeper dive into Greene’s remarks.

“Ok leave aside the snark. The obvious antisemitism is in saying ‘the Jews’ crucified Jesus when even according to the text she believes in it was a few leaders in a subset of a contemporary Jewish community. It is collective blame, the most obvious of bigotries.”

“The text she presumably predicates her case on, the New Testament,” he notes, “was when it was collated a political document at a time when Christians and Jews were competing for adherents and when it would have been plainly dangerous to blame Rome for the murder of God.”

“Yes,” Kampeas continues, “that take is obviously one that a fundamentalist would not embrace, but it is the objective and historical take, and *should* be available to Jews (and others!) as a means of explaining why Christian antisemitism exists, and why it is harmful.”

CNN’s Edward-Isaac Dovere also slammed Greene, saying she “is standing up for continuing to talk about Jews being responsible for the killing of Jesus. (John & Matthew refer to some Jews handing over Jesus to Pilate,not Herod. But also: many, including Pope Benedict, have called blaming Jews a misinterpretation)”

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OPINION

MAGA State Superintendent Supports Chaplains in Public Schools – But Not From All Religions

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May 1, 2024

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Visitors to Oklahoma’s State Schools Superintendent’s personal social media page will notice a post vowing to “ban Critical Race Theory, protect women’s sports, and fight for school choice,” a post linking to a Politico profile of him that reads, “Meet the state GOP official at the forefront of injecting religion into public schools,” a photo of him closely embracing a co-founder of the anti-government extremist group Moms for Liberty, and a video in which he declares, “Oklahoma is MAGA country.”

This is Ryan Walters, a far-right Republican Christian nationalist who is making a national name for himself.

“God has a place in public schools,” is how Politico described Walters’ focus.

Last week the Southern Poverty Law Center published an extensive profile of Walters, alleging “hateful rhetoric toward the LGBTQ+ community, calls to whitewash curriculum, efforts to ban books, and attempts to force Christian nationalist ideology into public school classrooms.”

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“Walters is superintendent of public instruction, and public schools are supposed to serve students of all faiths, backgrounds and identities,” Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD, told SPLC.

Walters is supporting new legislation in Oklahoma that follows in Texas’ footsteps: allowing untrained, unlicensed, uncertified, and unregulated religious chaplains and ministers to be hired as official school counselors.

“We heard a lot of talk about a lot of those support staffs, people such as counselors, having shortages,” Rep. Kevin West, a Republican, said, KFOR reports. “I felt like this would be a good way to open that door to possibly get some help.”

Walters praised West, writing: “Allowing schools to have volunteer religious chaplains is a big help in giving students the support they need to be successful. Thank you to @KevinWestOKRep for being the House author for this bill. This passed the House yesterday and moves on to the Senate where @NathanDahm is leading the charge for this bill.”

As several Oklahoma news outlets report, there’s a wrinkle lawmakers may not have anticipated.

“With the Oklahoma House’s passage of Senate Bill 36, which permits the participation of uncertified chaplains in public schools, The Satanic Temple (TST) has announced its plans to have its Ministers in public schools in the Sooner State. If the bill advances through the Senate, this legislation will take effect on November 1, 2024. State Superintendent Ryan Walters, a vocal advocate for religious freedom in schools, has endorsed the legislation. The House approved SB 36 by a 54-37 vote on Wednesday,” a press release from The Satanic Temple reads. “The Satanic Temple, a federally recognized religious organization, has expressed its dedication to religious pluralism and community service.”

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Walters responded on social media to The Satanic Temple’s announcement.

“Satanists are not welcome in Oklahoma schools, but they are welcome to go to hell,” he wrote.

Former Lincoln Project executive director Fred Wellman served up an equally colorful response.

“Hahahaha!!! You are an idiot,” Wellman wrote. “How did you not see this coming? Satanists, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Pastafarians…come one come all! After all you’re not trying to establish Christianity as the state religion are you? We had a whole ass revolution about that. There are history books about it…oh…right. Not your thing. What a fool.”

The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) served up a warning.

“The state of Oklahoma cannot discriminate against people or groups based on their religious beliefs,” the non-profit group wrote. “Walters’ hateful message shows, one again, that he only believes in religious freedom for Christians and that he is unfit to serve in public office.”

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News

Potential Trump VP Pick Says ‘If You’re a Billionaire’ You Should Vote for Trump

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May 1, 2024

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One of the possible picks to be Donald Trump’s vice presidential running mate, seen as “rapidly ascending” the list, is urging billionaires to vote for the ex-president.

North Dakota Republican Governor Doug Burgum “is quickly moving up former President Trump’s list of possible vice presidential picks because Trump’s team believes he would be a safe choice who could attract moderate voters,” Axios reported on Sunday. “Burgum is on a long list of VP contenders, but Trump’s rising interest in the North Dakota governor has been clear in recent weeks — and reveals his latest thinking about how he thinks his running mate could help him with undecided voters.”

Praising Governor Burgum, the National Review’s Michael Brendan Dougherty on Monday wrote he was “the only candidate in 2024 to easily exceed expectations in the debates.”

“He is a well-liked governor from a small state. He projects seriousness and sobriety, two qualities Pence also had that were important to balance the 2016 Republican ticket. Burgum is also good at championing Republican policy, including our desperately needed policies of energy abundance and supply-side reform. He is also the right age — 67 — with no signs of slowing down. Burgum needs to survive the millions poured into opposition research, but, if he does, I think he would bring credit and balance to the Republican ticket.”

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On Tuesday, Gov. Burgum, appearing on Fox News, told Laura Ingraham, “when you see someone who cares this deeply about this country, what he’s going through and what the Democrats and the liberal media is putting him through, and how he gets up and fights for every day people in America every day, and then his policies are all in the right direction.”

“If you’re a billionaire and you care about your shareholders, you care about your family and your grandkids, you should be voting for someone that’s going to bring prosperity to America and peace to the world, that’s what President Trump is going to do, that’s what he did for us when he was president,” Burgum claimed.

The Hill adds, “Ingraham suggested a lot of billionaires are still planning to support President Biden, especially those that are the ‘Wall Street types.’”

Last year, asked if he would ever do business with Trump, Bergum told NBC News, “I don’t think so,” and added, “I just think that it’s important that you’re judged by the company you keep.”

Some reports call Bergum a billionaire, while Forbes last year reported it “estimates Burgum’s net worth to be at least $100 million.”

Watch the video below or at this link.

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