Bullying of LGBT youth in America: Prevalence, pffects, and government responses

Abstract

Bullying in schools affects many students in harmful ways. The injurious effects that bullying can have on students cannot be understated, ranging from poor academic performance and anxiety, to depression and suicide. National statistics reflect that those students who are or who are perceived to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) experience substantially higher rates of bullying than their peers. Because of growing information on this topic, bullying has been elevated from a playground incident to a topic of public policy debated in the U.S. Congress as well as in state legislatures across the country. However, passage of state-level laws has created a patchwork of protections for LGBT students. At the federal level, the only protections available have come from executive action and application of Title IX's prohibition on schools engaging in discrimination against students on the basis of sex. Congress, despite widespread recognition of the need for further protections, has yet to move forward with legislation that would make schools a safer place for LGBT students. An analysis of U.S. state and federal bullying protections indicates that while some schools are becoming safer environments for LGBT students, there is much more progress to be made.