What is Sexuality and Gender Based Bullying?
Most people know about bullying in schools, but what if the bullying is sexual in nature? Schools have a responsibility to protect their students and don’t tolerate bullying. This includes bullying that is related to a student’s gender or sexuality. This type of bullying can include inappropriate comments or jokes, insults, pictures or messages sent by the bully and intrusive questions about a student’s personal life. It can also include using language that is hurtful to students who are gender or sexuality diverse, like saying “that’s so gay.”
Is it against the law?
Sexuality and gender-based bullying can sometimes break the law. If the bullying has a sexual nature, it can be considered sexual harassment. If a student is treated unfairly by staff or other students because of their sexuality or the sexuality of their family and friends, it can also be considered sexual orientation discrimination.
“It can be really hard to be out at school. When my girlfriend and I were bullied, it helped to talk about it with my mum and teachers.”
Alexis
What can I do about it?
Speak to a school staff member
It is important to know that every school has a policy and procedure to deal with bullying, which may also cover bullying based on gender and sexuality. You can ask the principal or staff about the school’s complaint procedure so that you can report any bullying behavior you may be experiencing. It is the school’s job to take action and ensure that the behavior stops.
Lodge a complaint with the EOC
If you or your child feel that you have been harassed or discriminated against, you have the option to lodge a complaint with either the Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC) in your state or territory, or the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC). These commissions can provide advice, assistance, and investigate complaints of discrimination and harassment on the grounds of gender, sexuality, or other protected attributes.
“Everyone has the right to be educated in a safe environment free from discrimination, harassment and bullying.”
WA Equal Opportunity Commissioner Yvonne Henderson.
Where can I go for help?
The staff at your child’s school
In the first instance, you can approach a trustworthy teacher at your child’s school. They can offer support and guidance on how to report the behavior and will be able to connect you with the appropriate resources and channels to address the issue.
Freedom Centre
info@freedom.org.au
PH:(08)9228 0354
AIDS Council PH:(08)9482 0000
Equal Opportunity Commission
eoc@eoc.wa.gov.au
PH:(08)9216 3900
Toll Free:1800 198 149
Australian Human Rights Commission
complaintsinfo@humanrights.gov.au
Telephone: (02) 9284 9600
Complaints Infoline: 1300 656 419
Parents, Family & Friends of Lesbians & Gays
(PFLAG)
pflagwa@hotmail.com
Helpline (08)9228 1005
WA Gender Project
info@wagenderproject.org
Myth Busting!
MYTH: Homosexuality is contagious.
FACT: This is not true. People’s sexuality cannot be influenced by others. Nobody can be convinced to become gay, lesbian, bisexual, or heterosexual.
MYTH: Gay men and lesbians cannot have long-term relationships.
FACT: This is false. Same-sex couples can have long-lasting and committed relationships, just like heterosexual couples. Many same-sex couples prefer not to engage in the “gay scene” or attend gay venues, which may make them less visible to the community.
MYTH: People who are attracted to the same gender are sick and need to be cured.
FACT: Being attracted to the same gender is not a disease or illness. It is simply a part of human sexuality, and many people experience attraction to the same gender. People do not need to be cured or changed to fit into a certain societal norm.
MYTH: Transgender people don’t know their own gender and are confused.
FACT: Transgender people are very certain about their gender. They wouldn’t put themselves at risk of bullying and discrimination if they weren’t sure about their gender identity.
Here are the meanings of some important words:
Gender: How you see yourself as masculine or feminine based on your culture’s ideas.
Sexuality: This includes a lot of things like gender identity, who you are attracted to, and how you experience intimacy and pleasure.
Sexual Diversity: The idea that people are different from each other in terms of their sexuality.
Sexual Orientation: This is about who you are attracted to based on their gender.
Trans: This term includes people who are transgender or transsexual.
Transgender: A word used to describe many different types of people who have different gender identities and behaviors. Some people don’t like to use this word to describe themselves.
Transsexual: A person who lives as the opposite gender to the one they were assigned at birth and may have hormone therapy or surgery to change their body.
Intersex: A person who is born with reproductive organs, genitalia, and/or sex chromosomes that are not only male or female.
Original source: https://www.wa.gov.au/system/files/2022-05/Fact%20Sheet%20-%20parents%20A4%20-%20May%202022.pdf
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