A student’s mere expression of anti-gay, anti-immigrant, or anti-Catholic views, however abhorrent, is constitutionally protected speech. Many LGBT youth who commit suicide have been victims of bullying at school.įor all of these reasons, the ACLU of Virginia supports strong anti-bullying policies that protect students from harassment and intimidation, provide a safe and effective means for students to report bullying, and allow for appropriate investigation of complaints and discipline of bullies.īecause bullying often consists of speech, however, it is essential that anti-bullying policies be written carefully to ensure that they do not infringe on the First Amendment rights of students. LGBT youth suffer higher rates of suicide than the general population, and estimates are that between 30 and 40% of LGBT youth have attempted suicide. For them, bullying exacerbates the trauma and turmoil they may be facing. These students may already be struggling to come to terms with their sexuality in a hostile cultural environment that may even extend to their own families. LGBT youth are particularly susceptible to bullying. And, students who commit acts of school violence frequently have been victims of bullying. Schools with high rates of bullying perform worse academically than schools with lower rates of bullying. Bullying can have serious effects on the physical and emotional well-being of bullied students. There can be no doubt that bullying is a serious problem in our schools.

Speeches about bullying