Gay Student Alliances Help to Promote Safer Environment In Schools: Study

Children with different sexual orientation are at greater risk of getting teased and are easier targets for cyber bullying. A positive environment in school can help them overcome these social difficulties and mingle better.

Researchers at University of British Columbia in a latest study have tried to illuminate the importance of gay-straight alliances and anti-homophobia bullying policies in school in promoting safer environment at educational institutes.

"We really want people to see that these kinds of policies and programs that are designed to create a safer, more inclusive environment may actually have an effect beyond just the kids who participate and beyond just the gay, lesbian and bisexual teens," said Elizabeth Saewyc, who led the study, reports thetyee

Bullying among students is a great concern in schools. Despite stringent anti-bullying laws in 49 states, 70.6 percent of students and 70.4 percent of school staffs admitted to witnessing someone being bullied, according to a recent report by the Department of Health and Human Services.

The gay straight alliances aim at promoting tolerance and help in building bonds between the students, easing out  complexities and discomfort levels arising out of sexual orientation. The importance of such social welfare communities have grown further in recent years with even heterosexual students getting bullied alongside the LGBTQs.

One in every four students have admitted to getting bullied in school with greater cases reported on cyber bullying, reports medical daily. The homosexual students have greater chances of getting bullied and 55.2 percent of the gay students involved in the study revealed of getting cyber bullied.

"We know that LGBTQ students are at a higher risk for suicide, in part because they are more often targeted for bullying and discrimination," said Saewyc in a press release. "But heterosexual students can also be the target of homophobic bullying. When policies and supportive programs like GSAs are in place long enough to change the environment of the school, it's better for students' mental health, no matter what their orientation."

 The researchers based their findings on a survey of nearly 21, 000 students between eight and twelfth grade in 12 schools that had either already incorporated the anti-homophobic bullying policies or intervention like GSA or none.

Social discrimination, especially toward the homosexuals, was substantially low among students in schools associated with GSAs. Even the heterosexual students were found to be less bullied in such educational institutes. Suicidal tendencies fell in more than 70 percent of boys and 66 percent of girls in these schools that  implemented anti-homophobic bullying policies.