LGBT More Likely To Be Bullied & Targeted At Younger Age

[Gagaloo911 12,959]

Gay and bis-xual children are more likely to be bullied as they are growing up, and a new study suggests that victimization may occur at an early age, before some of those targeted are aware of their s-xual orientation.

In the first large U.S. study to look at the problem, public school students in three cities were asked about bullying in the 5th, 7th and 10th grades. When they reached high school, they were asked if they identified themselves as gay, lesbian or bis-xual. The researchers then looked back at what those kids had said through the years about their experiences being hit, threatened, called names, or excluded.

Overall, many of the nearly 4,300 students surveyed said they were bullied, especially at younger ages, according to the study, which was published Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine. But the 630 gay and bis-xual children suffered it more.

The researchers found 13 percent of them were bullied on a weekly basis in 5th grade, compared to 8 percent of other kids. In both groups, the rates went down as the students got older — but the disparity persisted.

The data doesn't say why each kid was targeted. But most were likely picked on for being “different,” he said.

Other research has found gay and bis-xual high school students are more likely than their heteros-xual classmates to attempt suicide or do risky things like smoke and drink alcohol.

In an earlier study, Schuster and his colleagues found that the longer a child is bullied, the more severe and lasting the effect on the kid's health. Bullying is linked to depression and feelings of lower self-worth, Schuster said.

 

Parents should also set good examples at home, he said. For example, parents shouldn't mock or make fun of lesbian, gay or bis-xual individuals, because they may unknowingly make their children feel rejected.

“For the kids who aren't s-xual minorities, it's also sending a message that it's OK to mock people who are gay,” Schuster said.

 

Source: http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/5/7/lgbt-kids-more-likely-to-be-bullied-growing-up.html

While this doesn't come as a surprise, still so sad.

 

[Mabel 205]

This is so bad. Being confused about your s-xual orientation and bullied about it... Just imagine the damage they do to kids  

[SEVDALIZA 1,274]

Expected that to be the case, but it's seriously heartbreaking that in the 21st century that is still a reality. We can only hope and work for a better tomorrow that'll be more accepting and compassionate. We still have a long way to go to get there, most likely, but I believe we'll get there one day.

[Sexxx 5,737]

it's definitely getting better

[Luiz 4,253]

"Gay and bis-xual children are more likely to be bullied as they are growing up, and a new study suggests that victimization may occur at an early age, before some of those targeted are aware of their s-xual orientation."

 

they trying to say being bullied makes you gay or something?  

[Jester 6,388]

"Gay and bis-xual children are more likely to be bullied as they are growing up, and a new study suggests that victimization may occur at an early age, before some of those targeted are aware of their s-xual orientation."

 

they trying to say being bullied makes you gay or something?  

​I think they're just trying to say what the study found during its research. That could be one of the conclusions though

[Gagaloo911 12,959]

"Gay and bis-xual children are more likely to be bullied as they are growing up, and a new study suggests that victimization may occur at an early age, before some of those targeted are aware of their s-xual orientation."

 

they trying to say being bullied makes you gay or something?  

​Not at all.

 

What it's getting at is that they are being bullied (the researchers mention probably because they are perceived as being "different") before they even know they're gay themselves.

 

So they could be being bullied because they're perceived as being gay before those who are being bullied even know or are certain they are gay.

 

You should always be careful with causality in research, usually it's just correlation and the study never implied it was the bullying making them being gay. Furthermore it pointed out how others were bullied too even though they weren't or didn't become gay so that wouldn't make any sense.

 

 

[Economy 52,846]

"Gay and bis-xual children are more likely to be bullied as they are growing up, and a new study suggests that victimization may occur at an early age, before some of those targeted are aware of their s-xual orientation."

 

they trying to say being bullied makes you gay or something?  

Call it "stereotyping" if u want but fact is a higher percentage (not all) of homos-xuals tend to be different in many ways than heteros-xuals, especially woth traits of the opposite s-x...

 

these tendencies can start at a very young age before the children themselves fully understand their own s-xuality

 

So its not that surprising

[Dorothy Gale 7,575]

I'm tired of the LGBT being seen as victims. 

[Whispering 18,865]

I'm tired of the LGBT being seen as victims. 

I'm tired of people making them victims by bullying them, discrimination and a general non-acceptance. 

 

[LoveandMagic 1,731]

Expected that to be the case, but it's seriously heartbreaking that in the 21st century that is still a reality. We can only hope and work for a better tomorrow that'll be more accepting and compassionate. We still have a long way to go to get there, most likely, but I believe we'll get there one day.

Me too. I have hope.