Photo: Getty ImagesNearly half of young gay men who play sports in New Zealand have been the target of bullying, assaults and slurs, new research has found. The international peer-reviewed study by Monash University in Melbourne analysed survey responses from 1173 lesbian, gay and bisexual young people from New Zealand, Ireland, Canada and Australia. "We didn't expect that so many young people would report being the target of harmful behaviours that included slurs, bullying, assaults, and derogatory jokes. Being the target of these behaviours, or even just being exposed to these behaviours, increases the likelihood that a young LGB New Zealander will self-harm, or attempt suicide. There is strong evidence that LGB youth are harmed by homophobic and transphobic behaviours.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 06, 2020 03:22 UTC