Study: PE Lessons Have High Levels of Homophobia

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A study funded by beyondblue has found that high school students are experiencing high levels of homophobia in Physical Education lessons.

The study found that 98% of students had heard casual homophobia in their PE classes, 80% on a frequent basis. More than 60% of students in PE classes and a quarter of those surveyed had been physically abused or pushed.

Leader of the study’s research team Dr Caroline Symons from Victoria University made the following comment about the results: “It’s like a constant drop of water, you’re hearing it all the time and it’s corrosive to your self image.”

400 same sex attracted and gender diverse young people were surveyed, almost half of whom had thought about self harm or suicide and 14% had attempted suicide.

The president of the Personal Development, Health and Physical Education Teachers’ Association, Peter Henson said that it was important to teach students not to think about sexuality in terms of “normal” and “different”.

“You teach students what equal and respectful relationships look like – and they can take any one of 100 different forms – and you let each individual explore that concept within their own context.” he said to the Sydney Morning Herald.

WA Greens MP Lynn MacLaren MLC called upon the State Minister for Education Peter Collier MLC for change: “As further evidence comes out that homophobic bullying is rife, I will continue to campaign for more direct action in WA schools.” she said.

“Students facing verbal and physical abuse in PE classes because of their diverse gender identity and/or sexual orientation are experiencing increased mental health problems; this is not good enough.”

“I congratulate Beyond Blue for commissioning the report so these impacts can be brought to light.

“I have repeatedly questioned the State Education Minister on what action the Government is to taking to protect LGBTI school students at high risk. His response has been that broad anti-bullying policies suffice. Well, this evidence says, clearly more is required.

“School is hard enough for kids as it is, the report has shown that strong levels of self-acceptance can create a buffer between homophobic bullying and subsequent mental health issues. Investing funds, time and energy into telling kids that they should be proud of who they are should be on the Education Minister’s agenda. There is only good to come from it.

“It is sad to learn that LGBTI kids are dissuaded from taking part in physical activity because of discrimination, this will only compound mental health issues. We need a change of heart by the Minister and immediate action.”

Jamison Parker, Executive Officer and Chairperson of It Gets Better Australia told OUTinPerth he felt beyondblue’s effort to research the issue was a step in the right direction.

“The fact that it’s been identified is a good sign. I think that what we really need to focus on now is where it’s happening, why it’s happening, and how we’re going to actually deal with it. ”

“Although the facts aren’t good, the fact that a study has been done on it is definitely a step in the right direction because we actually have some hard facts proving that there is a problem and that we really do need the assistance to tackle the issue.”

Parker said there needs to be a unified approach to fight homophobic bullying in schools.

“Whether that’s community leaders, educators, teachers, it needs to be very much a forum of people that have that influence over children. Even parents, because children aren’t born with intolerence. There definitely needs to be a bit more cooperation between community groups, educators and parents, otherwise that problem is just going to keep looping around because the issue with bullying is, someone gets bullied, and that cycle just keeps going around.

“Now we at least have some facts for when we approach it, for example, from my position, I can now go to other community groups and educators and go ‘Look, from this study the facts are already there’ and it definitely gives community groups a bit more leverage when we try to work with legislators and try to work with government organisations to make progress on this issue.”

Sophie Joske

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