Abused gay teachers 'need more help'

Unions say gay teachers still don't have access to equal rights

Gay teachers bullied by students aren't getting enough support from colleagues, the Teacher Support Network says.

They claim four out of five gay teachers have suffered homophobic abuse.

The largest UK-wide teacher's union, NASUWT, says they're seeing more gay teachers coming to them with complaints.

Many are upset that their colleagues aren't taking homophobic abuse from students seriously enough.

There are 465,000 working teachers in the UK and it's estimated that around 50,000 are gay, lesbian or transgender.

Twenty-four-year-old Rhys is gay. He graduated and became a teacher but last year decided to leave the profession.

'Never came out'

He said: "Before I became a teacher I thought about how being gay would affect my career - I'd be naive not to have.

"I thought about how I would react if I heard the word gay being used in a derogatory way.

"I thought about what I would say if any of the pupils I taught were to ask me if I was gay or not.

"I never lied about being gay but I never came out either to my colleagues or pupils."

Teaching is one of the fastest growing professions in the UK but unions are worried some gay teachers don't feel confident reporting bullying.

Rhys added: "There were high levels of homophobia in my school. Students would ask, 'Do you like men or do you like women sir?'

"There was one boy who used to run past my classroom, kick open the door, shout abuse daily.

"Eventually it was dealt with and I got an apology but I was lucky."

Gay charity Stonewall says anti-bullying policies need updating

'Changes needed'

At the moment schools have their own anti-bullying policies. The gay and lesbian charity Stonewall want to see changes made so that teachers can take their cases further.

Unions reckon schools and colleges still have some way to go before gay teachers receive equality of rights and opportunities.

However, Dr Chris Howard, President of the National Association of Head Teachers, thinks the system does treat homophobia seriously.

He said: "Improvements in schools will only be made when attitudes in society change.

"Anti-bullying policies that take place in schools are efficient. Head teachers and staff in primary, secondary schools and colleges across the UK take homophobic bullying as seriously as any other form of bullying."