Controversies Faced By LGBT Students Coming Out In High School

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“I’ve been shoved into lockers and sometimes people will just push up on me to see if I have boobs,” a 17 year old transgender boy in Utah told Human Rights Watch. After the incident, he told his school administrators and they dismissed his complaints of verbal and physical abuse. LGBT students receive social pressure at school regardless if they are out or not. Also, LGBT kids often struggle to understand their identity, and during that time, depending on, who knows, they lack support from family and friends. When LGBT students come out in high school, the negative effects put them at psychological and physical risk and limiting their education (Thoreson). Having to face/deal with bullying, exclusion, and antiquated school/state policies …show more content…

In 2016 the Youth Risk Survey found that 34.2% of lesbian, gay, and bisexual respondents in the US have been bullied on school ground. There are many types of bullying that LGBT students have encountered. One type of bullying is physical bullying. Some students that the Human Rights Watch have interviewed have told them they have faced physical violence at school, but their school took no effective steps to stop it. Sometimes, students who have faced this type of bullying are even afraid to tell adults for the fear of telling them would make the situation worse or they would take no action to stop it again. Cyber bullying is another thing LGBT students face. They receive unflattering photos or videos to misgender, mock, and embarrass them online by their peers. Teachers also bully and mock LGBT students. Also, some fail to take harassment seriously and never raise or discuss issues in class. Another type of bullying are types of harassment. A type of harassment is verbal harassment. A lot of students’ mental health is negatively affected by targeted verbal harassment. Sexual harassment also happens to LGBT students. Lesbian and bisexual girls that were interviewed by the Human Rights Watch say there are regularly propositioned for sex by straight male classmates. Also some bisexual, lesbian, transgender, and gender nonconforming students receive overt threats of sexual assault. Due to all the different …show more content…

Even though some students suffer depression, coming out can also cause less depression, less anxiety, and a better self-esteem (Stevens). Also, the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry did a study and found that LGBT youth who come out at school report more positive adjustment. Also, LGBT students who try to hide their gender identity or sexual orientation at school receive more victimization. Being out also has a strong connection with life satisfaction in young adulthood (“Coming Out At

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