A recent report by the charity Just Like Us has revealed that over half of lesbian and gay parents have encountered negative commentary about their families. The study highlights that 48 percent of these parents fear their child will face bullying at school. Conducted through a survey of 1,012 parents across the UK, the research shows that more than a third of lesbian and gay parents have faced invasive questions, and 42 percent of their children have experienced remarks about having LGBT+ parents.
Amy Ashenden, director of communications and engagement at Just Like Us, indicated that the findings were troubling, accentuating the need for inclusive school environments. The report highlighted multiple specific incidents of discrimination and negative experiences faced by LGBT+ families in educational settings.
One pansexual mother, Shelley, shared her concerns about her children experiencing negativity due to having same-sex parents, recounting specific incidents both at school and at home. The report additionally found that a quarter of LGBT+ parents felt their children were excluded from social activities and that a significant number of parents felt let down by the lack of LGBT+ inclusivity in schools.
The findings were released during School Diversity Week, which began on June 24.