Promising Strategies for Prevention of the Bullying of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth.

Abstract

Although bullying has received greater attention in the media as of late, those who may be most at risk for bullying victimization are often missing from the discussions. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have emerged about the educational experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth. Much of the research demonstrates that the climates of U.S. middle and high schools are generally unsupportive and unsafe for many LGBT youth. These youth report experiencing harassment, discrimination, and other negative events in school, often specifically related to their sexual orientation, gender identity, and how they express their gender. Such experiences include high levels of verbal and physical harassment and assault, and social exclusion and isolation (D’Augelli et al., 2002; Kosciw et al., 2010; Ueno, 2005). These experiences can negatively impact LGBT youth’s mental health (D’Augelli et al., 2002; Toomey et al., 2010) and access to education (Kosciw et al., 2010; Murdock & Bolch, 2005).