Stop the Madness
By Ray Ceo, Jr.
As more teens kill themselves, students say anti-gay bullying is commonplace in their schools — but many of them are ready to fight back
Cindi Azuogu is no stranger to harassment and bullying. As a straight girl heading up Desert Ridge High School’s Gay-Straight Alliance, she has been the target of harassment, both by her peers in school who call her names between classes, and also by the Westboro Baptist Church, who earlier this year, stood outside her school with signs like “God Hates Fags” and “Gays Burn in Hell.”
“The most prevalent type of harassment I have seen always pertains to ignorance. Most of the time, the harassment doesn't come in the form of direct bullying or violence towards someone who is GLBTQ. It stems from people who don't realize the harm of what they say or do,” she said.
According to the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN), Azuogu isn’t alone. According to a report published in 2007, 86.2 percent of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth report being verbally harassed in school because of their sexual orientation. Further, GLSEN reported that 44.1 percent of them report physical harassment, and almost a quarter report being physically assaulted.
Azuogu is part of that statistic. She has seen this bullying happen to her friends and fellow GSA members.
“A girl in the GSA has been subject to unfathomable bullying. Just because she dresses differently, looks different and is gay, people like to pick fights. And it baffles me because she is the world's sweetest! She is so kind and caring for others, is super emotional and is at a loss as to why people would treat her such a way,” she said.
GLSEN’s report, alongside dozens similar to it, has recently come into the limelight by a string of students who have committed suicide, with their parents citing bullying as the cause. For instance on April 6, 11-year-old Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover hung himself at home. His mother said it was because of excessive bullying in school, a problem she attempted to address by calling the school on a weekly basis,
Then, less than two weeks later, Jaheem Herrera hung himself in his bedroom, his parents citing constant bullying and being called “gay” is to blame.
However, this problem isn’t new, back on March 29, 2007, a bully shouted to Eric Mohat, “Why don’t you just go home and shoot yourself.” Later that day, Mohat did. And the Massachusetts 2006 Youth Risk Survey reports that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual peers. Further, the San Francisco State University Chavez Center Institute found that GLBTQ youth who are rejected by their family are nine times more likely to attempt suicide.
A Growing Problem
These national stories about teens killing themselves because they are bullied for being GLBT, alongside statistics showing gay teens in the highest bracket for suicide indicates a growing problem.
Locally, GLSEN reports that 98 percent of GLBT students in Arizona regularly heard the word “gay” used in a negative way in school, such as “that’s so gay.” Meanwhile, 74 percent regularly heard homophobic remarks, such as “faggot” or “dyke,” from other students in school.
Emily Monahan, a Corona del Sol High School GSA member is in that 74 percent. She thinks it makes it harder for GLBT youth to “come out” while in high school. “I think the main form of GLBT harassment in high schools is in the form of gender identity discrimination,” Monahan said. “If a boy does something not manly enough, he's gay or a fag. If a girl does something too manly or is single too long, she’s butch or a lesbian. High school students are quick to judge, and seeing students get made fun of for something they may or may not even be makes it harder to come out in high school.”
Monahan reports that she has experienced bullying from teachers, the very people who are meant to protect students.
“Words like ‘fag’ and ‘dyke’ are used every day and most teachers don't say anything,” she said. “Hell, I know multiple teachers who say ‘that's so gay’ and tease their students about their sexual orientation. There are many male teachers on campus that will make jokes about their students being gay if they're not manly enough or even do one thing that's vaguely feminine.”
This harassment from teachers often goes unreported. GLSEN reported that 60.8 percent of those harassed never report the incident to the school. Of the few who did report it to the school, almost a third said the school did nothing.
And while teachers and schools aren’t taking action, other organizations are. 
The Human Rights Campaign announced that they are releasing a new guide to equip school administrators, teachers and other school personnel with knowledge to help address biased-based bullying. The “An Introduction to Welcome Schools” guide hopes to aide in the creation of environments where students feel safe and affirmed.
GLSEN partnered with the AdCouncil to release the “Think B4 You Speak” commercials early last year. These videos, including one starring pop-singer/actress Hillary Duff, were aired on YouTube, and have aired on television. Further, GLSEN announced that a federal anti-bullying bill — the Safe Schools Improvement Act — will be introduced in the House by California Rep. Linda Sanchez.
The Safe Schools Improvement Act is actually a an amendment to the 2007 Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, and adding language to include bullying and harassment within the 2007 Act's definition of violence.
Taking action
The parents of Mohat have filed a federal lawsuit against the school he attended, citing that the school knew of the bullying. The parents have stated they don’t want money, but instead want the school to recognize that they failed to protect their son, and to implement anti-bullying programs.
And while Monahan knows some teachers that offend, she says, “I can name two of my teachers who stand up for GLBT students without a second thought. Some teachers have GLSEN ‘safe space’ stickers on the doors to their classrooms and others have HRC stickers on their podiums. One of my teachers proudly wore a rainbow ribbon on National Day of Silence and all but one respected my choice to be silent.”
Further, Monahan participates in teaching freshmen about discrimination.
“I am part of a program at my school that holds six different ‘Awareness Days’ for all freshmen on campus,” she said. “During Awareness Day, students are taught about discrimination on campus through skits, small group discussions and activities all lead by upper classmen. One of the on campus issues we address is discrimination toward GLBT students.”
She has also been asked help start the GSA next year at her school, and plans to.
Azuogu is doing similar things. She thinks that leading by example is important and calls fellow students out on bullying.
“I think the most important thing to help stop it, and the one thing I've advised everyone in the GSA to be on top of, is to never make exceptions or excuses for certain things that are said,” she said. “It is super-important to try to be 100 percent intolerant of any prejudiced remarks, whether it regards sexual orientation, race, culture or background, people's personalities or learning abilities, etc. Once you start making exceptions for one of them, you may as well make exceptions for all. There is no excuse for defamation or making someone feel like a lesser person. Because once bullying starts, it can get out of control, as has been seen in many situations.”
Azuogu believes that everyone is responsible for their remarks, including teachers, and thinks everyone should be made aware of their remarks and how hurtful and powerful those remarks are.
“I advise every student to call someone out if they say something inappropriate. I've heard stories from students saying that teachers are guilty of homophobic remarks just as much as students. I can't even being to describe how messed up that is. But if you don't speak up, the teacher will continue. I don't care who you are, I don't tolerate it whatsoever.”
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