The study, "Valuing Visibility: An Exploration of How Issues of Sexual Orientation Arise and Are Addressed in Post-Primary Schools", was carried out by NUI Maynooth on behalf of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN), and was funded by the Department of Education.

Staff from eighteen schools participated. A key aspect of the study was to examine the challenges presented to school staff by students being openly gay.

Many reported a general level of tolerance of homophobia in educational institutions, alongside a prevalence of targeted bullying of gay and lesbian students and of those considered to be so.

A number of teachers said they felt ill-equipped to address the issues of sexual orientation as they related to the school context. Many spoke of the difficult bind in which they found themselves - on the one hand wanting to support a young person who might be in the process of coming out, while on the other hand dealing with their own fears around the consequences if the student were to come out.

Some teachers and principals also felt that a lack of knowledge and awareness contributed to fears that discussing issues of sexual orientation might have negative consequences for individual students, for teachers, or for relationships between the school and its trustees, or with parents.

Participants also said the unknown position of the parents in relation to the child’s sexual orientation added a particular anxiety for school personnel which might not be present in other bullying situations.

The research found that school staff were often more uneasy than their students about young people being openly gay.

A deputy principal said a senior student who recently revealed he was gay was overwhelmed by support from his fellow students.

“But it seemed to be the adults who might have had the problem,” the deputy principal told the researchers.

An assistant principal mentioned a remark by one student about teachers' silence when a lesbian couple went to a debs together. The student "considered it weird" that none of the teachers said anything, “like they thought it wasn’t right”.

“Not talking about it openly gives young people a bad message; that there is something wrong with being gay and that homophobia from teachers and students is okay,” the assistant principal said.

Most teachers noted a lack of clarity in the school’s general approach to dealing with sexual orientation issues and this was a barrier to responding positively to students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or unsure of their sexual orientation.

The report suggested religious bodies, which have a role in the running of most second-level schools, could play a major role in giving clear guidance and direction for schools to deal effectively with homophobic bullying.

It also said teachers needed training to sensitise them to these issues.

Seán Haughey, Minister of State at the Department of Education, said the report highlighted the need for schools, parents and the wider community to continue to tackle bullying, peer aggression and violence directed at young people based on their sexual orientation.

It was essential, he said, that young people be given the opportunity to discuss their concerns about sexual identity issues.

The department and GLEN are working on guidelines to help principals address issues around sexual orientation in their schools. (Sources: Irish Times; Irish Examiner)