Trans students five times more likely to be bullied daily, study reveals

Trans students are five times more susceptible to experiencing daily bullying than their cisgender counterparts, based on research conducted by the LGBTQ+ youth charity Just Like Us.

While only 2% of cisgender students aged 11 to 18 report being bullied daily, the figure rises to 10% among trans students, according to ‘Rayo’. In the past year, over half (54%) of trans pupils have encountered some form of bullying, in contrast to one in five (21%) cisgender pupils.

Sebrina, a trans woman from Thirsk, shared her experience: “The majority of the bullying I experienced was as a secondary school pupil. It was at a time when the phrase “that’s so gay” was very popular, especially amongst teenage boys. I was a shy and camp little kid, so an easy target for the boys in my class.

“I already knew I was LGBT+, but the relentless bullying stopped me from exploring and understanding my sexual orientation or gender identity. The constant messaging of “gay is not OK” made me isolate and repress my feelings. I didn’t want to identify with the LGBT+ community because I thought life would just get harder for me if I did.

“It wasn’t until after the bullying stopped that I eventually built up the courage to come out as transgender at the age of 18. I believe the bullies robbed me of the precious years I could have been myself as a teenager, which could have changed the whole trajectory of my life. I’m so glad I did come out at 18, and I love my life today, but bullying really did affect my own perception of myself.”

Laura Mackay, Chief Executive of Just Like Us, commented: “It is incredibly worrying and completely unacceptable that transgender school pupils are facing daily bullying at five times the rate of their cisgender peers. We already know that the vast majority of young people who say they are not supportive of trans people do not actually know a trans person in real life, highlighting the serious and urgent need for more trans representation and inclusion in education.

“When young people are able to understand and empathise with the experiences of their trans peers, it mitigates the fear of the unknown that is undoubtedly fuelled further by anti-trans narratives in media and politics. At Just Like Us, our volunteer ambassadors speak about their experiences in secondary schools across the UK, becoming that much-needed representation for thousands of school pupils every year. Our LGBTQ+-inclusive lesson resources also allow schools to foster a more supportive environment where pupils can celebrate difference and diversity and challenge stereotypes and misconceptions, reducing stigma that can lead to bullying.

“When young people are equipped with the knowledge and understanding to treat everyone with respect, it creates a safer, more inclusive space where all students, regardless of their gender identity, can thrive.”