Challenges Faced by LGBTQ+ Students

The education system over the years has seen significant changes; however, the challenges faced by LGBTQ youth in this era remain unaddressed by the authorities. Today, schools and colleges have become a breeding ground for crimes and hatred towards the queer community. Each day, there are students who harass, discriminate and bully the pride community. 

One significant reason why several people don’t come out of the closet is the fear of facing discrimination and bullying in their surroundings. While there are people around the globe who support the community by participating in parades with positive Pride quotes, a large group in society does not support the community. The LGBTQ+ community faces challenges in schools and colleges that impact their health and happiness. Let’s throw some light on the issues that this vulnerable community faces on a daily basis:

Challenges Faced by LGBTQ Youth:

For queer youth, school or college doesn’t feel like a safe space, as discomfort in these institutions is a universal experience for many students. So, what challenges do LGBTQ students face? What are the specific difficulties they encounter on campus? Well, there are many, some of which are:

Prejudiced Treatment:

Discrimination or prejudiced treatment is one of the most common challenges faced by LGBTQ youth as they do not fit into the stereotypical roles of society. Heterosexual, cisgender, or non-transgender peers develop prejudices against the community, often leading to physical attacks, verbal harassment, and even sexual assault simply for being different!

An Outsider Treatment:

While some students support their queer peers by wearing unisex crop tops at events or daily with pride-supporting phrases or symbols, others do not treat LGBTQ+ students as equals. This often leaves queer students feeling excluded from society as they navigate their sexual orientation and gender identity.

Isolation:

At times, the harassment and bullying extend beyond students, with many LGBTQ+ students facing rejection from teachers and school or college administrators. The queer community often lacks a support system, and many are disowned by their families. This can lead to feelings of isolation and negatively impact their mental health.

How do the Challenges Affect the Students?

Now that we know the challenges LGBTQ students face, it’s time to understand how these issues lead to significant consequences in their lives. Many students experience traumatic events that impact their mental health, including:

• With the frequent harassment and bullying faced by several students each year, they prefer to drop out of schools and colleges due to the increasing traumatic incidents and experiences. This eventually leads to a lifelong financial uncertainty and insecurity among the queer students.
• LGBTQ+ students often skip school or college regularly to escape from the traumatic experience of isolation, marginalization, and discrimination. This results in low grades as they lack the motivation to interact with unsupportive and prejudiced peers.
• The constant rejection and discrimination from society leads to a long-lasting feeling of hopelessness among queer students. Some even consider ending their pain permanently by attempting suicide.

Ways To Support The LGBTQ+ Community:

Every coin has two sides; while some students are happy with their experiences, many go through traumatizing situations. The challenges faced by LGBTQ youth are not adequately addressed by education system policies. So, what can be done to make the community feel accepted and an integral part of the student body?

Introducing Anti-Bullying Policies:

School and college policies have a meaningful impact on students. Implementing anti-bullying policies can bring positive change to the classroom environment. Authorities can set rules forbidding discrimination based on sexual orientation so that students can feel safer on the premises.

Creating An LGBTQ+ Safe Space:

Understanding the challenges LGBTQ students face in educational environments, it is essential to employ teachers and administrators trained to encourage acceptance and reduce problems faced by the pride community. This helps foster better outcomes for the students.

Supportive Administration:

At times, staff and teachers also discriminate against students. Schools and colleges can prevent this behavior by adopting explicit anti-discrimination policies. This ensures equal treatment regardless of the students’ sexual orientation.

Supporting The Community With Love And Respect:

Given the increasing challenges faced by LGBTQ youth, it is time for everyone to embrace queer-friendly education and create a welcoming environment by offering safe spaces for students. Creating a welcoming space and celebrating inclusivity is not just the responsibility of school or college administration but also of the students. But what can one do to show support to their queer peers?

Show your support to the LGBTQ+ community by making them feel safe and welcome. You can do so by offering pride gifts to your queer friends, standing up against discrimination that they face in school and college, supporting anti-bullying policies and showing support. You can also empower pride-owned businesses by supporting them. It’s not about making everything change in a day. Every small gesture matters to uplift the community.

Even a small gesture like wearing LGBTQ T-shirts can make a huge difference in making students feel comfortable and welcomed. It’s all about spreading joy and acceptance to the community and promoting inclusivity.

Spread happiness with thoughtful gifts and pride wear from My Pride Matters and see a visible change that contributes to fostering a more inclusive world. Bring smiles to faces and make your LGBTQ+ peers feel loved and valued with a collection of thoughtfully crafted creations from us!