Gay people fear discrimination in education, major new poll finds
A major YouGov poll of lesbian, gay and bisexual people, commissioned by Stonewall, has found that lesbian and gay people expect to experience unfair treatment when accessing education for themselves or for their children.
YouGov surveyed a sample of 1,658, the first statistically significant national poll ever conducted into the life experiences of Britain's 3.6 million gay people. The poll, published in a new report, Serves you Right, looks at the experiences and expectations of discrimination when it came to work, education, politics, crime and the criminal justice system, housing and healthcare.
Asked about their own experiences and expectations in education, the findings show:
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89% of lesbian and gay people in Wales expect to face discrimination if they were to apply to become a school governor
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3 in 10 lesbian and gay people across Britain expect to be treated worse that heterosexuals if they enrol their child in primary or secondary school
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Younger people (18-24 year olds) are more likely to expect less favourable treatment as a result of being gay
"Homophobic bullying is still prevalent in schools so it's not surprising that so many lesbian and gay people feel the education system is unwelcoming," says Matthew Batten, Stonewall Cymru's Policy & Public Affairs Officer.
"Governors Wales, schools and local authorities need to engage more with the lesbian, gay and bisexual community, to recognise the unique skills and experience they can bring to the role and encourage more people from diverse backgrounds to become a school governor.
"School Governors play a vital role in developing the ethos of a school and it is disappointing that so many gay people in Wales are reluctant to apply for a position of school governor. Often gay people have important skills that could help schools develop a more inclusive and respectful learning culture. Gay school governors understand first hand the issues of 'coming out' and being gay in schools, and they can help schools develop policies that tackle homophobic bullying and take steps to ensure lesbian and gay people are welcomed and included in all aspects of school life."
However, positive steps are being taken to tackle anti-gay attitudes in education in Wales. The Welsh Assembly Government is funding Stonewall Cymru's bilingual training DVD, aimed at helping teachers better understand and tackle homophobia and homophobic bullying. The DVD resource is part of Stonewall Cymru's Education for All campaign and will be sent to every secondary school in Wales later this year.
The Assembly are also producing clear guidance to help schools develop approaches to addressing homophobic bullying and create an inclusive environment.
Matthew Batten added, "We are delighted that the Assembly is demonstrating their commitment to tackling homophobic bullying by issuing guidance to all schools and funding this much needed resource. This will be invaluable to teachers who want to make their school a safe and respectful environment for all."
