Source: The Mercury, 17 January 1995, p. 7 Source: The Mercury, 17 January 1995, p. 7
GAY and lesbian students and teachers suffer frequent verbal and physical abuse in schools across Aus- tralia, a new survey has revealed. The study of more than 150 gay and lesbian students and teachers, from schools in all states except Tasmania, recommended that education depart- ments introduce anti-homophobia policies and grievance procedures to protect students. The report said teachers and stu- dents were guilty of harassment. The main findings of the survey were: * 59 per cent of those surveyed re- ported verbal harassment and 21 per cent reported threats of violence. * 18 per cent reported physical vio- lence including being punched, being hit with a plank of wood, hit with eggs and being pushed down stairs. * Almost 10 per cent of the students and ex-students surveyed said a teacher was guilty of harassment. Of the students who reported violent physical attacks, 22 per cent said they had been attacked at least 10 times. The author of the report, Sydney teacher Jacqui Griffin, said yesterday that while most of those surveyed were from New South Wales, the results could be applied to other states.
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