Survey finds harassment of gay students common

A survey of high school students suggests bullying and harassment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students remains common in Iowa schools.

The survey of 203 students by the Iowa Pride Network was the first completed since the Iowa Legislature passed the Safe Schools Law in 2007. The law requires schools to have anti-bullying and anti-harassment policies in place to protect all students, including those who are gay.

Ryan Roemerman, executive director of the Iowa Pride Network, said Wednesday that while harassment remains common, the survey “also makes clear that the law works when it is meaningfully implemented.”

The survey included 88 students who identified themselves as gay and 115 who identified themselves as “straight.” Of the straight students, 115 identified themselves as “allies” of gay students, 29 as non-allies.

Among the survey's findings, as reported in a news release, were:

• 89.2 percent of the respondents reported the law is not posted at their school.

• 87.5 percent of the gay students reported hearing frequent homophobic remarks in their schools. That compares to 91 percent in 2007, the last time the survey was taken.

• 78.4 percent of gay students reported being verbally harassed because of their sexual orientation. That compares to 80 percent in 2007.

• 37.5 percent of gay students reported some physical harassment, such as being pushed or shoved, because of their sexual orientation. It was 36 percent in 2007.

• 20.5 percent (16% in 07) of gay students reported an incident of physical assault (being punched, kicked or injured with a weapon) because of their sexual orientation or gender expression. That was 16 percent in 2007.

• 56 percent of gay students are more likely than their straight peers to report that they had considered committing suicide.

The study found fewer students report being verbally harassed, and more teachers and students are intervening when homophobic remarks are made in their presence, Roemerman said.