Homophobia In Schools Needs To Be Taken More Seriously

Homophobic bullying in schools needs to be taken more seriously, according to gay rights charity Stonewall. The report, the organisation's first on the issue for five years, also says despite progress being made, there is more to be done.

The organisation surveyed 1,614 lesbian, gay and bisexual people between the ages of 11-19. Fifty-five per cent said they were targeted because of their sexuality.

The government says it is doing more to tackle homophobia in schools. The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) has welcomed the report but agrees more needs to be done.

You can read more on this story on the BBC Newsbeat website here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/18705431

What Can Care Providers Do To Support Older Gay People?

May 17th was the International Day Against Homophobia. A recent paper by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation: Perspectives on ageing: lesbians, gay men and bisexuals by Sally Knocker shines a spotlight on the huge impact that prejudice has had on older people's lives and on the impact that the morms of their youth still have upon their present experience.

Sally found that many fear needing services, believing (rightly or wrongly) that their identity will become invisible or that they will experience prejudice from care professionals or their own peers. This is particularly true for those who are HIV positive. A national survey found that many HIV-positive older people fear that social care services, care homes and sheltered housing might be HIV prejudiced and/or homophobic. One in five reported experiencing age- or HIV-related discrimination in the past year, and HIV discrimination was worst in healthcare and goods and services.