How to Deal With a Homophobic Classmate

Homophobia can be hurtful, but there are methods that you can use to deal with it. Homophobia affects both gay and straight teenagers and is usually demonstrated through bullying and name calling. Here's how cope.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Educate yourself. Refuse to respond to the bullying. Turn and walk away. Learn about what makes someone indulge homophobia. Read school literature to find out the policies on school bullying.
2. Share with those you trust. Gain emotional support by talking about the homophobic behaviors experienced with family members, friends and others you trust. Receive support from friends by walking to and from class with them.
3. Encourage others who have witnessed acts of homophobia to speak up and share the incidents with authority figures in the school.
4. Speak to your school principal. Report the bullying and find out what methods can be used to resolve the conflict.
5. Discuss your feelings with a school counselor. Deal with the emotions associated with bullying by talking to the school counselor. Consider making an appointment with the bully in order to let them know how his behaviors has affected you. Have someone who can restrain the bully in case he resorts to violence accompany you to that meeting.
6. Change your phone number and email address to prevent receiving hate messages. Give out new contact information only to trusted friends.
7. Create a gay-straight alliance at your school. These groups are open to any students regardless of sexual orientation and can be used to educate others about the effects of homophobia and bullying.