A new school year is starting, and we can only hope it will be calm.
Recent events have highlighted a resurgence of homophobia and transphobia in French society, which have been expressed without restraint in public spaces and on social media. Through pointless controversies and vile comments, the agitation of minority and extremist groups seems intent only on erasing one of the fundamental values of our Republic: Equality, from the forefront of our schools.
SOS Homophobie experienced an unprecedented increase in testimonies from adolescents in 2013 (+80%), as reported in the latest report on homophobia.
Always difficult for those who endure them, LGBT phobias can be even more destructive when they affect adolescents, whose personal identity is still in formation.
The school environment is not spared: in 2013, testimonies rose again (+30%), highlighting the persistence of insults, psychological pressure, assaults, and harassment in schools.
The consequences can be numerous: withdrawal, isolation, academic failure, risky behaviors, and in the most severe cases, depression or even suicide attempts.
In this context, an active policy against LGBT phobias must be implemented in schools. It is now necessary to prevent the despair of young lesbians, gays, bi individuals, and trans people, and more broadly, to strongly combat the hate and rejection that LGBT people still face.
