Advice To GLBT Kids Coping With Bullies

Chip · Nov 7, 2010

Mic Hunter is a highly respected therapist who has written a number of books on various issues. He recently wrote the article below, and has kindly given permission for it to be reproduced here at EC.

Advice To GLBT Kids Coping With Bullies
© Copyright 2010, Mic Hunter

Recently the print and broadcast media has finally taken notice of the issue of young people being bullied because they are, or merely perceived to be, gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, or transgender (GLBT). The existence of such mistreatment is nothing new; it has been occurring forever. What is new is that the issue is getting attention. There has also been an increase in coverage of young people committing suicide in response to on-going abuse by their peers, as well as the lack of meaningful action by school administers and other authority figures. GLBT kids are told to hang in there, things will get better, and people will eventually change their minds. All of which is true, but misses the point. I would never tell a child being sexually molested at home, don’t worry, things will be better when you get older and can get out to the house and away from the offender. The victim’s behavior isn’t the problem-the offender’s behavior is the problem.
On the issue of domestic violence most people have stopped asking, why does the victim stay with the perpetrator, and begun to why does the perpetrator think this behavior is acceptable, and what can be done to stop it? We need a similar paradigm shift in regards to the verbal and physical abuse suffered by GLBT people.
Since it seems unlikely that in the near future the widespread abuse of GLBT students will disappear, what is a young person to do? Over many years my clients and I have come up with a number of strategies for responding to verbal bullying. There is no one right response for all situations, therefore I always recommend becoming familiar with all of them so as to have the greatest number of options.

Be Powerfully Silent
Bullies attack people in order to get a reaction, therefore refusing to give them the type of response they are seeking is a way of standing up to them. By being silence I don’t mean looking at the floor in humiliation, but rather making full eye contact with the bully while remaining silent, thereby sending the message to the bully and to other people witnessing the event, “Your remarks aren’t worthy of a verbal response.”

Express Surprise
For most people, the kind of insulting remarks about African-Americans that used to be common are no longer acceptable, but we have not yet reached that point when it comes to insulting remarks concerning GLBT persons. GLBT students and their allies can send the message that name-calling is unacceptable by expressing surprise that there is still someone who would make such ignorant and hurtful remarks.

“Wow, what century are we in? I thought that kind of thinking died out during the last century, along with racism and sexism.”
“Wow, that certainly was a rude thing to say.”
“How unfortunate that hatred and prejudice continues to exist in some people’s minds.”

Play Dumb
On the television program, Colombo, the main character was a seemingly inept police detective that showed up to crime scenes in a rumpled trench coat with the stub of a cigar. He would convince suspects that he was completely incompetent by playing dumb, but then would solve the case, usually by asking one last question as he made for the door. He wasn’t afraid to appear as if he were a bungling idiot because he knew he wasn’t. GLBT students can utilize this same technique in response to bullies-when insulted play dumb.

“I don’t understand what you mean; I’m not familiar with this term faggot.”
“I’m not clear how you are trying to help me with that statement.”
“Would you say that more slowly, I’m not sure I heard you correctly?”
“Please speak up, I didn’t hear you…No, I still didn’t get all of it, please say it louder.”

Be Delighted
Since the goal of bullying is for the victim to be embarrassed and humiliated, to refuse to do so is to defeat the purpose. Eleanor Roosevelt was speaking about race when she said, “Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent,” but her message is just as appropriate for GLBT people.

“Oh, how nice of you to notice.”
“Nothing gets past you, oh observant one.”
“You say, ‘queer’ like it’s a bad thing.”
“You can say that again.”

Be In A Different Play
Social roles are like theater in that specific behaviors are expected of the characters that make up the scene. The motivation of the bully is clear, to look powerful by picking on someone who is perceived to be weak and vulnerable. When the bully recites his or hers line, “F_cking faggot,”* it is in effect a cue for the victim to respond accordingly to expectations. The role of the victim is to tolerate the mistreatment and be humiliated. But, just because a certain response is expected, doesn’t mean that it has to be forthcoming. The victim can resign from that role and play another, better, role by responding to the cue how he or she desires- the more nonsensical the better.

“Sometimes the magic works, sometimes it doesn’t.”
“No thanks, I’ve already got one.”
“Nice of you to offer, but no thanks.”
“Thanks, it’s my favorite shirt.”
“I think that was nominated for an Emmy.”

Make The Covert Overt
Communication between people occurs on two levels; the most obvious level, the overt, consists of the actual words being spoken. Then there is the covert message that is unspoken, but still understood. Sarcasm is a common example of this. When the speakers says, “Nice brain, Einstein,” the words are positive, but the tone of voice makes the actual meaning clear, “That was a stupid thing to say.” Making the covert overt means speaking the hidden message aloud.

“So, you want me to feel humiliated because you called me a faggot.”
“This is the point in the story where I supposed to be embarrassed.”
“You believe by attempting to insult me you will some how improve your self-image.”

Go Nuke,
When I was in high school there was another student that, for whatever reason, had decided to insult me every chance he got. Whenever he could, he would tell me that I was a queer, a homo, a faggot, etc. Thinking perhaps he didn’t understand the meaning of these words, I tried to educate him. I pointed out to him that as an athlete, it was he who spent most evenings after school showering with other naked males, while I was busy being sexual with girls, so therefore I was certainly not homosexual. But like most bullies, he didn’t allow the facts to interfere with his prejudice. I tried ignoring him, and hoped that when he insulted me in the presence of teachers and administrators they would reprimand him. But because he was a star athlete, he was permitted to do as he pleased. Finally, I got fed up and decided to go nuke on him the next time he did it. We were in social studies class and the teacher asked the students to consider how life might be different if we had been born the other sex. The bully chimed in, “You should ask Hunter, he’s always wanted to be a girl.” Having practiced my lines, I was ready. I spun around in my chair and said in a loud voice so everyone in the room could hear, “You sure are so sexually obsessed with me. I bet you masturbate thinking about me before you go to sleep, and have wet dreams about me all night long.” He just starred at me with his mouth hanging open. When I turned around I saw that the teacher didn’t know how to respond either. After what seemed like a long silence, she began again as if nothing had happened. But something had happened, I had sent the message to that bully and any potential bully that I was willing to go too far, or at least farther than they would be comfortable going. That bully never bothered me again.

Conclusion
Bullies can only exist in a culture that accepts their behavior. GLBT students and their allies can refuse to take part in those culture expectations and insist that meaningful change take place. The time to do so is now; lives are at stake.

* I find it sad that F_ck and N_gger are considered too offensive to print, but faggot is acceptable.

Dr. Mic Hunter is licensed as both a psychologist and a marriage and family therapist. He is the author of numerous books. His private practice is in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where he lives with his wife of 27 years. His most resent book, Honor Betrayed: Sexual Abuse In America’s Military that addresses, among other things, the mistreatment of gays and lesbians. His forth-coming book, Back To The Source: The Spiritual Principles Of Jesus, will be released in late 2010 or early 2011. In it he addresses the mistreatment of women, gays, and lesbians.
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Paper Heart · Nov 7, 2010

I love these! Like I'll definitely incorporate some into my already used vocab.

Its just the ending that killed me. That faggot can be printed, but other offensive slurs can't?

Pepsi · Nov 8, 2010

This is really awesome. You should make it a sticky

British Lad · Nov 8, 2010

Faggot has no meaning and I laugh at there pathetic attempts to use them as a slur against me

malachite · Nov 8, 2010

British Lad said: ↑

Faggot has no meaning and I laugh at there pathetic attempts to use them as a slur against me
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Agreed. "Oh, no someone who's opinion means nothing to me is judging me!
how am I going to sleep tonight....probably on my side."

Connor22 · Nov 8, 2010

I am going to use these

Paper Heart · Nov 8, 2010

British Lad said: ↑

Faggot has no meaning and I laugh at there pathetic attempts to use them as a slur against me
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But when they try the whole bundle of sticks "definition". That truly pisses me off. When you see the hate in someone's eyes, their smug sense of "power", while saying that word. I just cannot stay quiet.

Sicsemper79 · Nov 8, 2010

Personally I hate the word... It still bothers me when I hear it even now that I am a grown man. When I hear it I just remember being that gay kid... the same age as a lot of you are now... but completely alone, before the internet, with zero other gay people to look up to on TV or in real life and knowing that I could never let anyone know that I was actually a "faggot". If I knew then what I know now, I would have beat the hell out of a kid the first time I heard it and never looked back.

fragomatrick · Nov 8, 2010

This post by far is the most awesome ever!

booby · Nov 10, 2010

these are so good ! thank you for sharing

Pokerface · Nov 10, 2010

That is good stuff up there.

Darkwing65 · Nov 10, 2010

Fag? No, i don't smoke.

Advice To GLBT Kids Coping With Bullies

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