The New South Wales government has pledged $250,000 for a groundbreaking pilot scheme to combat homophobic bullying in our schools.

The Proud schools scheme will be implemented at 12 schools in Sydney, the Hunter and on the Central Coast, reports the ABC.

The program will include teacher training and workshops with students and parents.

The urgent measures come just two months after a gathering of concerned LGBT groups and researchers met at NSW Parliament to tell MPs graphic tales of violence at the hands of school bullies.

One student suspected of being gay had their hair set on fire, the meeting heard. Another – a 13-year-old girl – had a glass bottle smashed on her head, and felt she couldn’t tell her family what happened in case her parents found out why she’d been targeted. Another girl was attacked by eight guys at once, who yelled abuse and pushed her into a brick wall.

61% of same-sex attracted students recently surveyed by Melbourne’s La Trobe University said they had copped verbal abuse from their peers, while 18% had been physically assaulted.

In an extreme case from early adulthood, a 21-year-old told researchers how he had the word ‘FAG’ cut into his back.

FIGHTING FOR OUR YOUTH

Greens MP and spokesperson for sexuality and gender issues Cate Faehrmann congratulates the NSW Government for announcing the trial program, but warns that moves to address bullying in schools could be sabotaged by certain right-wingers in Parliament.

“This is excellent news – after caving in to the fear-mongering of far-right moral crusaders in 2005, the government should now be congratulated for acting on homophobia in schools,” says Faehrmann.

“The latest research shows homophobic bullying in schools is rampant, and affects the entire community, not just those who are gay, lesbian or gender diverse.

“Unfortunately, the same far-right fringe interests who have blocked action on this issue for so long, are still very influential at Macquarie Street. The government must secure multi-party support before the extreme conservatives of NSW politics sabotage the program.

“There is a very real risk that this desperately needed program won’t make it into all schools simply because of the last-century thinking of a few lone moral crusaders at Macquarie Street,” Faehrmann warned.