| The purpose of this qualitative research was to inquire about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Queer (LGBTQ) individual's experiences in junior and senior high school. Due to the recent increase of media coverage, there have been reports of LGBTQ teenagers' completed suicides in the news. LGBTQ teenagers are at a higher risk for being bullied, and at a higher risk for attempting or completing suicide. Additionally, research has illustrated that teachers participate in the bullying. I want to determine why this trend is not decreasing even though it has been brought to the public's attention. I asked interviewees if they were bullied or know of others who were bullied. I asked them for their opinions as to why they think they were targeted. I wanted to determine if LGBTQ atypical gender expression increases their risk of being bullied. I hope to add valuable information in understanding gender expression in hopes of lessening society's expectations based on biological sex. |
