School Report Cymru (2017)
- More than half of LGBT young people in Wales (54 per cent) and 73 per cent of trans young people still face bullying at school for being LGBT
- More than two in five trans young people (41 per cent) have tried to take their own life
- This new research must act as a wake-up call for schools, local authorities, government and politicians
Conducted in partnership with the Centre for Family Research at the University of Cambridge, Stonewall’s School Report 2017 surveyed more than 3,700 lesbian, gay, bi and trans young people aged 11-19, including 267 living in Wales. The School Report Cymru 2017 is based on the responses of those participants living in Wales.
This study shows that while some LGBT young people in Wales are accepted, for many bullying, discrimination and exclusion are part of their day to day lives.
Key findings
- More than half of LGBT pupils in Wales (54 per cent) - including 73 per cent of trans pupils – are bullied for being LGBT at school.
- Nine in ten LGBT pupils (90 per cent) regularly hear phrases such as ‘that’s so gay’ or ‘you’re so gay’
- Nearly three in five LGBT pupils in Welsh schools (56 per cent) report that their schools say homophobic and biphobic bullying is wrong while just one in three (33 percent) report that their schools say transphobic bullying is wrong.
- Just one in six LGBT pupils (16 per cent) have learnt about safe sex in relation to same-sex relationships
- Three in four trans young people (77 per cent) have deliberately harmed themselves at some point as have three in five (61 per cent) lesbian, gay and bi young people wo aren’t trans.
- Two in five trans young people (41 per cent) have at some point attempted to take their own life, and one in four (25 per cent) lesbian, gay and bi students who aren’t trans have done the same
What pupils said
I was bullied in college for being trans and they did nothing. I was bullied for my clothing and they laughed with them.
MORGAN, 17, FE COLLEGE
I got pushed in corridors, kicked and told that I was a ‘nervous wreck’ when I would cry about the bullying. I’ve never really got over it.
JAMIE, 17, SIXTH FORM COLLEGE
Nothing LGBT has ever been discussed in a positive way at school.
ANNA, 13, SECONDARY SCHOOL
What you can do
- Get your school to sign up to our Train the Trainer programme
- Write to your Assembly Member to encourage your local authority to sign up to our Education Champions programme
- Get your school to take part in the Stonewall Season in October
- Sign Stonewall Cymru’s #ComeOutForLGBT pledge