Stop homophobic bullying in schools

Willie Docherty

Unions are being urged to work together and with local authorities to tackle homophobic bullying in schools.

This follows research by Stonewall that shows the 65% of young LGBT people face bullying.

"The facts are that being bullied isn't something that might happen to young gay people", said UNISON's Willi Docherty, "It is something they are more likely to experience than not".

"We cannot alow this to go unchallenged. The recent intitiative by Education Scotland with LGBT youth to promote awareness of this problem should be built upon", added Willie, speaking to a motion from the Society of Radiographers.

Only four of Scotland's 32 local authrities have signed up to Stonewall's education champions programme. "That's shameful and something we need to chnage", said Willie.

To a hushed Congress Willie cited the tragedy of 14 year old Kenneth Weishuhn in Iowa who came out to his family and peers as a gay teen about a month before his family discovered on April 15 that he had committed suicide. Relentless bullying at school and on Facebook had filled the final weeks of Weishuhn’s life.

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