Bullied gay students can seek redress from equality body

YOUNGSTERS suffering homophobic abuse in school may be able to bring theiraggressors to book at the Equality Tribunal, it was revealed yesterday.

As a new initiative was launched encouraging schools to protect pupils from bullying, teenagers were told they can seek redress from the Equality Tribunal.

Under the Equal Status Acts, harassment is prohibited on a number of grounds, including sexual orientation, and schools are required to take reasonable steps to protect children in their care.

Niall Crowley, of the Equality Authority, said children suffering such bullying might have a case.

“Schools need to ensure codes of behaviour and anti-bullying policies are explicit in naming the issue of homophobic bullying and in identifying the practices and procedures in place to prevent this,” he said.

“Schools should ensure that their admission policies are welcoming to a diversity of students, including gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students.”

Michael Barron of BeLonG To — a youth project for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people — revealed the schools initiative was started by young people suffering homophobic bullying.

“Some of our own members have been bullied so badly that they have been forced to drop out of school early,” Mr Barron said.

Researchers at Dublin City University found 79% of teachers who responded to their questionnaire were aware of instances of homophobic bullying in their school — 30% of these teachers had encountered it more than 10 times.

Some 90% said their schools’ anti-bullying policy did not include any reference to gay and lesbian issues.

The initiative was launched by junior minister Síle de Valera.

“I consider it highly significant that the impetus for this initiative came directly from young people in response to their own experiences of bullying in school,” she said.

The programme was welcomed by gay rights network GLEN.

“This kind of initiative is vitally important. Schools have a responsibility to create a learning environment that is free of bullying,” said GLEN communications officer Adam Long.

The campaign is being endorsed by An Garda Síochána, post-primary teachers’ and principals’ unions, Union of Secondary School Students, National Parents Council — Post-Primary, Parents Support and Pobal.