Homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying

Bullying of any kind can include anything from name-calling and spreading rumours to physical, sexual or emotional abuse.

The simple rule is, that if it’s making you feel upset or threatened, it’s probably bullying. The ways someone can bully another person are many and varied but here are some common signs that you’re being bullied:

• Making comments about a person’s gender or sexuality to deliberately make them uncomfortable
• Making threats
• Being put down or humiliated
• Inappropriate hand gestures or groping
• Being ignored or made to feel left out or excluded
• Hitting, pinching, biting, pushing and shoving
• Kicking, punching or being physically hurt
• Stealing your belongings or money
• Making things up to get you into trouble
• Threats and intimidation
• Making silent or offensive phone calls
• Posting or sharing insulting messages, rumours or photos online
• Sending offensive text messages
• You are receiving threats to ‘out’ you and tell your friends and family about your sexuality or gender
• Being compared to LGBT+ celebrities or characters that portray particular stereotypes of LGBT+ people

Your rights
Behaving in an insulting or intimidating way towards someone because of their sexual orientation or gender identity is unacceptable and you have the right to report it to the police.
If you experience abuse or violence, there are lots of places you can get support. More about LGBT+ abuse and violence

As hard as it might sound, you need to work hard to tell yourself this is not your fault. Bullies often look for a target and don’t care who they are attacking. And they often use a ‘difference’ in you to make you believe the bullying is your fault.

Bullies are often people who feel bad about themselves and they attack others as a way of hiding or distracting themselves from their own problems. Chances are they themselves have been made to feel rejected, different or inadequate and may be under stress or pressure.

These are never excuses for bullying another person but if you are the victim of bullying and you are taking what the bullies say to heart, it can be a useful reminder that it probably doesn’t really have anything to do with you or your gender or sexuality.

How bullying can make you feel