[LINK] "Gay, lesbian kids more likely to be bullied — even before sexual awareness"

[rfmcdonald]

Al Jazeera America reports something very unsurprising.

Gay and bisexual children are more likely to be bullied as they are growing up, and a new study suggests that victimization may occur at an early age, before some of those targeted are aware of their sexual orientation.

In the first large U.S. study to look at the problem, public school students in three cities were asked about bullying in the 5th, 7th and 10th grades. When they reached high school, they were asked if they identified themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual. The researchers then looked back at what those kids had said through the years about their experiences being hit, threatened, called names, or excluded.

Overall, many of the nearly 4,300 students surveyed said they were bullied, especially at younger ages, according to the study, which was published Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine. But the 630 gay and bisexual children suffered it more.

The researchers found 13 percent of them were bullied on a weekly basis in 5th grade, compared to 8 percent of other kids. In both groups, the rates went down as the students got older — but the disparity persisted.

“In fifth grade, they already were bullied more than other kids” even though, at that young age, many gay and bisexual kids haven't discovered their own sexual orientation yet, said the lead author of the study, Dr. Mark Schuster of Boston Children's Hospital.

The data doesn't say why each kid was targeted. But most were likely picked on for being “different,” he said.

“Some kids may be considered by the bullies to be a more girlish boy, or a more boyish girl,” said Schuster.