Homophobic bullying and preventive actions at school: from laws to gender studies in Italy

Abstract

The evolution of thought relating to sexual orientation and the greater visibility of gay and lesbian people, at media level also, haven’t been efficient for the revisiting of homosexual rendering from public acceptance and for a cultural transformation. The violent events on young homosexual students urge to reflect on the need that trainers should introduce educational models capable of providing different models of gender identification, fighting the stereotype that tries to substitute the reality itself. The homophobic bullying is intended as a fight to safety and well-being of young students. A multi-disciplinary and network approach seems to be for health practitioners a valid starting point to develop adequate ser- vices and projects place to contain the school emergency. That contribution highlights the need to approach the homophobic bullying as a complicated factor, often by the tragic consequences, analyzing from a social, psycho-pedagogical and legislative points of view. This article is focused on the need for a cultural change, moving from a dichotomous and approval culture to another of compliance of differences especially since from an analysis conducted in Italy and from contributions collected, it urges a necessity to recall to involve the institutions and a statement of a clear and specific protection. In this view, in prevention projects towards homophobic bullying, practitioners may have the role of facilitator of dialogue and Exchange who involves all the players included in prevention projects at bullying including victims, perpetrators and bystanders, families, educational staff and institutions.