New Study Reveals Latino Parents' Views on Bullying, Sexual Orientation and Prejudice

Results from a national study of Latino parents commissioned by Mental Health America to better understand parent-child communication about bullying, sexual orientation and prejudice shows that although nearly all Latino parents surveyed believe information on sexual orientation should come from parents, two-thirds have not started such conversations with their children.

The findings prompted the release of a new Spanish-language brochure, "Qué Significa Ser Gay?," part of Mental Health America's ongoing efforts to reduce bullying, particularly regarding sexual orientation, which can have serious effects on children's self-esteem, schoolwork and overall development.

Key findings from "What Does Gay Mean?: A Survey of Latino Parents' Perspectives on Bullying, Sexual Orientation and Prejudice" include the following:

• Nearly all Latino parents believe it is important that their children get information about sexual orientation directly from them (95 percent); yet, most have not started such conversations (64 percent).

• Seventy percent feel somewhat prepared, not very prepared or not at all prepared to talk with their children about people who are gay.

• Sixty three percent feel it is important for parents to teach their children that it is wrong to treat other people differently because they are gay.

• If told by their child that a classmate was bullied for being gay, more than one-third of parents surveyed would talk with their child about the situation (35 percent), one-third would teach their child how to handle the situation (34 percent) and about a quarter would discuss how they should treat the bullied child (23 percent).

• Nearly a quarter of parents surveyed don’t recognize that bullying of gay students happens at all (22 percent). Fifty-nine percent recognized bullying of gay students happens in their child’s school. Seventeen percent simply do not know if it happens.

• Over three-quarters of parents surveyed feel it is harmful for children to tease each other for being gay (76 percent)—whether or not they are gay.

To view or download a free copy of the "What Does Gay Mean?" brochure in Spanish or English or for more information on the survey, visit www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/whatdoes-gay-mean.