What is LGBT-bullying?

Answer 1

LGBT bullying can be verbal, physical, online, and/or psychological harassment of a person who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) or someone who is perceived as LGBT. LGBT bullying is more common in schools but can also happen in the community or workplace.

LGBT bullying is a major concern for schools as young people are picked on for just about anything: being too smart, being too tall, etc. Being called "gay" is detrimental to someone who may already be insecure about their identity, depressed, or has extreme feelings of isolation.

Levels of bullying can be everything from someone calling another person 'gay' (or other epithets) to physical harassment. These factors, coupled with isolation, loneliness, and a feeling of helplessness, can lead to the harassed person to run away, skip school, drop out of school, and (as a last resort) suicide.