60% of LGBTIQA+ students not safe

“For many young people in Western Australia, school is meant to be a place for learning, friendships, and growth. But for many LGBTIQA+ students, it is also a place where they are constantly thinking about safety, how they dress, who they talk to, what they say, and whether being themselves might make them a target. This year for the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) on May 17, the WA Youth Pride Network (YPN) is centring a simple message: “I Just Want to Feel Safe.” It comes directly from the voices of LGBTIQA+ young people who are telling us that, despite progress in some areas, daily life still involves harassment, exclusion, and fear. These experiences are not rare or isolated. In Western Australia, nearly 60 per cent of LGBTIQA+ students report they do not feel safe or comfortable at school, and fewer than four in 10 feel safe enough to be out. For trans and gender diverse students, the reality is even more stark, with almost half regularly missing school because they feel unsafe. Behind these numbers are everyday experiences that shape how young people move through the world. Students describe hearing homophobic and transphobic language in classrooms and corridors, being bullied, or feeling unable to be open about who they are. For some, this means not participating fully in school life at all. Even small things, such as using their name, wearing a uniform that reflects who they are, or sitting with friends, can become sources of stress or risk. As one young person shared, “School didn’t feel like a safe place to be myself, it felt like something I had to get through.” Another explained, “When things happened, teachers either didn’t see it or didn’t know what to do. Reporting it didn’t really change anything.” This reality sits alongside a wider misunderstanding that things have improved enough already. While visibility and acceptance have got better in some spaces, the lived experience of many young people shows that safety is still not guaranteed. Many say they are constantly assessing their surroundings just to get through the school day. Outside of school, the same pattern continues. LGBTIQA+ young people describe being harassed in public spaces, online, and even in community settings that are meant to be welcoming. For some, online abuse does not stay online. It escalates into real world intimidation and targeted harassment. This has a serious impact. When young people do not feel safe, it affects their mental health, their ability to learn, and their sense of belonging. It can lead to isolation, anxiety, and disengagement from school and community life. It also sends a message that they have to choose between being themselves and being safe, a choice no young person should ever have to make. This is why the 2026 IDAHOBIT campaign is not only about awareness, but about change. Young people are calling for stronger protections under the law: Reform of the Equal Opportunity Act in WA Stronger anti vilification protections A ban on conversion practices Clearer systems that actually protect students when harm occurs. These are not abstract policy ideas. They are responses to real experiences happening in schools right now. When students report discrimination, when harmful language is ignored, or when there is no clear pathway to respond, it sends a message that their safety is not a priority. Young people are not asking for special treatment. They are asking for the same thing every student deserves, to feel safe at school, to learn without fear, and to be treated with respect. As part of this campaign, YPN is supporting youth-led storytelling, a statewide letter-writing initiative, and direct engagement with decision makers. The goal is simple but urgent, to make sure lived experience is not only heard, but acted on. IDAHOBIT is a reminder that homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia still exist, and that silence allows harm to continue. But it is also a reminder that change is possible when young people are listened to and taken seriously. At its core, this campaign is not complicated. It is about safety. It is about schools where young people do not have to hide who they are. It is about communities where differences are not punished. And it is about making sure that every LGBTIQA+ young person in Western Australia can say, without hesitation, “I feel safe here.” Chloe Clements is the manager of Youth Pride Network , a WA advocacy group of young LGBTIQA+ people. Find out more about its I Just Want to Feel Safe campaign here .

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