Violence toward LGBT youth

[ladyinred]

What is reprehensible is that in this article it states students are blamed for flaunting their sexuality as a provocation for attacks and disparaging remarks. This results in the ultimate cop-out, blaming the victim and denying of personal responsibility for ones actions(As if someone else controls your actions)http://www.hrw.org/reports/2001/uslgbt/Final-02.htm
It seems abuse is seen as normal on the part of the school adminstration many times.

The thing that is tragic in our society is it's distorted concept that something we do makes other people abuse us, commit acts of rape or violence against us.Rape victims are told many times they dressed provocatively or did something to bring it on. Nothing could be further from the truth. Nobody put the idea of raping a woman in the mind of the rapist but him, no one but he is accountable for his own actions, the same is true of violence and abuse, no one makes people who do these things do them.They are the ones who act on their own decisions on how they will treat others. Blaming others for someone's actions is irresponsible.

[u-dog]

I feel so blessed that my kids went to a school where that kind of shit was NOT tolerated (the Principal's sexual orientation was an open secret. It was never mentioned officially but her partner came to all the school functions with her). One of our assistant superintendents is known nationally for the character education program that he designed for our school system. Respect, tolerence, diversity, kindness are all key componants of the program.

[antonyh]

What is reprehensible is that in this article it states students are blamed for flaunting their sexuality as a provocation for attacks and disparaging remarks. This results in the ultimate cop-out, blaming the victim and denying of personal responsibility for ones actions(As if someone else controls your actions)http://www.hrw.org/reports/2001/uslgbt/Final-02.htm
It seems abuse is seen as normal on the part of the school adminstration many times.

The thing that is tragic in our society is it's distorted concept that something we do makes other people abuse us, commit acts of rape or violence against us.Rape victims are told many times they dressed provocatively or did something to bring it on. Nothing could be further from the truth. Nobody put the idea of raping a woman in the mind of the rapist but him, no one but he is accountable for his own actions, the same is true of violence and abuse, no one makes people who do these things do them.They are the ones who act on their own decisions on how they will treat others. Blaming others for someone's actions is irresponsible.

This report was published in 2001. So little overall progress in US schools. Thank you for sharing this.