LGBT Students Don't Feel Safe At School

A survey of Canadian students found that many non-heterosexual youth face a daily barrage of insults in their high-school hallways.

Two out of every three Canadian high-school students who aren't heterosexual don't feel safe at school, according to a study released by the University of Winnipeg. The survey of 3,700 students across the country found that 70 per cent of students regularly hear the term “gay” used in a derogatory sense and that more than one in five queer students have been the victim of harassment or assault due to their sexual orientation. The study's authors said the results suggest schools should be more active in making lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered youth feel welcome by starting gay-straight alliances.