Kids can surely be mean to each other. And for those who identify as gay or lesbian, life can be particularly tough. A new study shows these adolescents get bullied two to three times more than their heterosexual peers.
While the researchers aren’t sure why this sexual minority gets bullied more than others or the type of bullying, which can include various verbal insults and physical assaults, they suggest in general those who are different from the social norm are often bully targets. Whatever the cause, the researchers say, the results have implications for parents and schools alike.
“Students, parents, schools and community organizations can work to create environments that are supportive and accepting of all students, regardless of their sexual orientation,” said lead study author Dr. Elise Berlan, a physician in Adolescent Medicine at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio and faculty member at Ohio State University. “Schools, in particular, need to work to increase the awareness of bullying.”