This week, students and educators are participating in GLSEN's "No Name-Calling Week," addressing anti-LGBTQ+ harassment and bias-based bullying in schools. This year's theme, is #SafeToBe. It highlights the struggles of black, brown and indigenous LGBTQ+ youth bullied for their race, gender or sexuality.
Inspired by the novel, The Misfits by James Howe, GLSEN and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing established "No Name-Calling Week" throughout schools in 2004. Now, schools recognize the week long event, annually.
From teasing to torment
Experts say verbal harassment, including name-calling, remains "most pervasive form of peer victimization in secondary schools across the country."
In a 2015 study, half of middle and high school students were verbally harassed about their appearance/body size. Additionally, 1 in 3 students say they were bullied for their race/ethnicity. And about one in five say they were made fun of because of their gender expression or their actual or perceived sexual orientation.
However, taunts can easily result in a much more serious matter.
Last year, a national survey reported that 40% of LGBTQ+ youth and more than half of transgender respondents had seriously considered suicide in the last year. And the coronavirus pandemic only intensified these feelings, leaving many students without the safe spaces and resources available.
How to support No Name-Calling Week
Despite living in the middle of a pandemic, there are still ways to help out special causes.
1. If you can, donate
Help make classrooms a safe space for ALL students and donate to the GLSEN project, here. Not only will it help with No Name-Calling Week, but it will also aid in other projects helping LGBTQ+ in school.
2. Sign the Pledge
Next, pass a proclamation in your area, and organize signing of this pledge! With this sign, share your own identity. As a result, you can show there is no tolerance for bullying.
3. Teach and educate
Luckily, GLSEN provides a ton of resources for students, parents and educators on how they can spread the message. Check out some of the ways you can make schools across the nation a safer place for you and your peers.