LGBT+ inclusion work as ex-teacher challenges homophobic slurs

The issue is a familiar one for Just Like Us, external, a charity working with schools to support LGBT+ young people.

Its research, in conjunction with VotesforSchools, external – which provides resources to teachers to support discussions on topical issues – found nearly four out of five primary school pupils they spoke to in England heard homophobic language.

The survey of nearly 32,000 pupils included more than 4,000 primary school pupils.

The organisation, which works with 272 schools in Wales, said it believed it remained an issue across the UK.

“‘Gay’ as an insult has not gone away from school playgrounds and classrooms, and I think it’s been exacerbated by social media,” said Amy Ashenden, who led the research.

“I think sometimes even as LGBT+ adults, we like to think that things have got better, but lots of young people are still facing a lot of the same challenges…this is just another example of that.”

A spokesperson for TikTok said it did not allow content that included a hateful slur or attacked a person or group on the basis of their gender, gender identity, sex, or sexual orientation.

The social media platform’s enforcement report from April to June this year showed it removed 88% of videos violating its hate speech policies and 89% of videos violating its bullying and harassment policies before they were reported.

The Welsh government said the curriculum taught across Wales was designed to promote “empathy, respect, and kindness”.

“Learners are supported to challenge discriminatory language and reduce bullying,” a spokesperson added.