- It can be about minor violence such as jokes, delusions or that someone gives you a strange look at more serious forms such as physical violence, bullying and freezing, says Jorge Maria Londoño, Development Manager at the Swedish Agency for Youth and Civil Society (MUCF), which organizes the course .
In a survey conducted by MUCF in 2018, 35 percent of young LGBTQ people stated that they had been subjected to violence or threat of violence during the previous six months. Among young heterosexuals, the figure was 20 percent.
- We know that we have students at school who feel vulnerable because of sexual orientation. This is not something we want, says Jens Nilsson, principal at Stagnelius School.
Homophobic bark wordsHow can these violations be expressed?
- "Gay bitch" and the like are things you can hear that are really not ok, says Jens Nilsson.
According to Jorge Maria Londoño, the most important lesson for school staff is to take action directly if you hear, for example, homophobic scolding words.
- Usually, the absence of a reaction is a legitimation of the violence or the violation. When we asked young LGBTQ people what is important for them to feel included in society and school, we see that it means a lot to adults to act, he says.