Campaigner Highlights Significant Increase in Homophobic Insults Within Schools

A former educator and consultant has noted a “huge resurgence” of offensive homophobic language, even among children as young as seven, within school environments. Ian Timbrell, an individual who collaborates with educational institutions on LGBT+ inclusion, stated that an increasing number of educators have sought his assistance following recent instances of derogatory language. Social media platforms, including TikTok, were identified as sources where such terminology is encountered. A spokesperson for TikTok, however, indicated that the company proactively removed nearly 90% of videos that breached its policies on bullying and hate speech prior to being reported. The Welsh government issued a statement, asserting: “Any form of bullying, discrimination, or sexual harassment is completely unacceptable.” Warning: This story contains offensive discriminatory language. Mr. Timbrell, who taught for 17 years, mentioned that he could not recall encountering the expression “that’s so gay” at any point during his teaching career. Nevertheless, he perceived a “huge resurgence” of such language over the last year. He attributed a significant portion of this to “their families and their parents who are using it,” adding, “But a lot of it is social media from the United States, TikTok accounts, things like that.” The Cardiff resident, a father of one, currently operates a not-for-profit entity named More than Flags and Rainbows, which endeavors to enhance inclusivity in schools and colleges and to confront homophobia. He further stated: “Ignorance is not an excuse. If people are saying ‘I didn’t mean it like that, or I don’t know what it means’, well it’s our responsibility as parents, as teachers, to educate them on why it is.” He indicated his intention to draw upon his personal experiences to illustrate to students the pain caused when such terms are employed negatively. He asserted, “The only way that we will stop this is if everyone stands up to it, whether you’re a teacher, a parent, a young person.” An Estyn report published in December 2021 revealed that LGBTQ+ students frequently encounter verbal homophobic harassment. Numerous students reported that homophobic bullying was a constant occurrence and the most prevalent form of harassment within their schools. Ashton Taylor, who identified as trans at the age of 15, recalls his school years without fondness. He recounted, “One of the things that I found was I was being called a lesbian quite a lot, which to a teacher they might not pick up on that being hateful.” He added, “But again, that is like something that would affect me quite a lot as a child.” The 22-year-old, a resident of Caerphilly, stated that he encountered homophobic language in school from age 11, which caused him to be “more afraid to come out.” He commented, “I think it’s starting to change, but I think it’s still very much a big issue, especially in smaller communities.” Currently a law student, he now delivers presentations at schools and universities, drawing on his personal experiences. He shared, “I’ve spoken to people who were maybe not that nice to me in school, and they’ve bought me a pint in the pub, because I’ve sat and spoke to them, and they’ve grown up a bit, reflected, and actually sat and listened to me.” Ashton indicated that he surmounted his past challenges by recounting his narrative and venturing beyond his comfort zone, undertaking global travel for this purpose. This concern is well-known to Just Like Us, a charitable organization that collaborates with schools to assist LGBT+ youth. Research conducted by Just Like Us, in partnership with VotesforSchools—an entity that supplies educational materials to teachers for facilitating discussions on current events—revealed that almost four out of five primary school students interviewed in England had heard homophobic language. The survey encompassed nearly 32,000 students, among whom over 4,000 were primary school pupils. The organization, which engages with 272 schools in Wales, expressed its conviction that this issue persists throughout the UK. Amy Ashenden, who directed the research, commented, “‘Gay’ as an insult has not gone away from school playgrounds and classrooms, and I think it’s been exacerbated by social media.” She further remarked, “I think sometimes even as LGBT+ adults, we like to think that things have got better, but lots of young people are still facing a lot of the same challenges…this is just another example of that.” A TikTok spokesperson affirmed that the platform prohibits content containing hateful slurs or attacks against individuals or groups based on their gender, gender identity, sex, or sexual orientation. The social media platform’s enforcement report, covering April to June of the current year, indicated that 88% of videos infringing its hate speech policies and 89% of videos violating its bullying and harassment policies were removed before being reported. The Welsh government stated that the curriculum implemented throughout Wales is structured to foster “empathy, respect, and kindness.” A spokesperson further added, “Learners are supported to challenge discriminatory language and reduce bullying.” Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.