What is the effect of in-school harassment on students?
Because they feel unsafe, victimized youth are pushed out of schools and into high-risk behavior. 22.2% of gay and lesbian youth report skipping school each month, because they fear for their safety on the school grounds, as opposed to 4.2% of the general student population. These students are also at an increased risk for substance abuse, dropping out of school, homelessness and suicide. According to data collected by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 40% of gay, lesbian and bisexual high school students will attempt suicide, as opposed to 10% of their non-gay peers. Aren’t students already protected from harassment by the law? No. New York State Education Law does not have any explicit prohibition on harassment of any kind in primary or secondary education. While some New York localities have passed anti-discrimination and harassment policies for their schools, there is no comprehensive statewide protection from harassment in schools under New York state law. Have simila
