From the London Evening Standard; emphases mine.:
Schoolchildren bullied over their sexuality are being advised by teachers to act “less gay,” it emerged today.
The shocking claim has been made by pupils in a report on bullying in schools in Essex.
Teenagers who are picked on for their appearance told how they were advised to wear their hair differently if they wanted to avoid being teased.
The document also reveals teachers are insensitive to the needs of bullied youngsters and claims some educators had received “very little” training in dealing with the challenges they face.
The “Anti-Bullying Work” report, based on evidence gathered from more than 250 teachers and pupils, has been compiled by Essex County Council.
The author of the report, Julie Keating, stated there was “anecdotal evidence of students being told to act less gay or to wear their hair differently as teachers felt they were making themselves a target for bullies“.
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