The main reason why teens are being bullied in schools is because a lot of the students are homophobic. Homophobia is defined as "the unreasoning fear of or antipathy toward homosexuals and homosexuality". Most teenagers would not categorize themselves as homophobic, but when they look back on the way they acted towards gays, it is clear that they have a problem with classmates in the LGBT community. Many don't want to admit that they judge classmates based on their sexuality. An article was published about a series of videos posted entitled "It Gets Better". The videos are to assure gay teens that even though it may be bad now and there's nothing to look forward to in life, it will only get better as time goes on.
Even though some don't believe it could improve, it is statically proven that it already is. One of the ways that bullying problems has gotten better, is the media attention that its receiving from reporters and writers. With having the courage to speak out to everyone who is watching or reading, the word is spreading like wild fire about bullying against teens who have come out about being gay. We do see however, in some cases that it really isn't getting better. The word "gay" is still used to this day as a derogatory term when trying to describe someone as being stupid or weird. It seems like it was easier many years ago when attending a school as a member of the LGBT community. Ruth Hunt, a lesbian in a secondary school 15 years ago, says that things were much easier for her then compared to now.
The main reason why so many gay teens are being bullied in schools is because of others being homophobic. Just because someone has chosen to like someone of the same sex, does not mean that they are weird or different from you in anyway. So what if they're gay? It doesn't make a difference of who they are on the inside. They're still normal kids trying to live a normal life, and we as a community are really making it difficult for them to do so. Others need to stand up for these kids because if we don't than who else will?
The Economist. Homophobia: It's getting better, anti-gay attitudes are vanishing in schools. 3 March 2012. Print Edition.
Homophobia is the main problem among students in schools today. They feel like its difficult when trying to adjust with their fellow classmates who are in the LGBT community. The truth is that it shouldn't effect your opinion of them at all. No one should have the fear of those who are homosexual, they aren't anything to be afraid of.
Even though you might think they're different, that doesn't mean that they are bad people. However; that's how students and even some adults are treating them in today's world. It was not this hard for gay teens in the past. It is not even comparable. People were more accepting and open about their sexuality. Even though this article proves that yes, it is getting better in some schools, it doesn't change the fact that students are still struggling to this day with being considered different.
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