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The Seattle Police Department, the Seahawks and the Mariners are among the groups from across the country who have been recording "It Gets Better" videos to encourage gay youth. Now, a study from the University of Illinois shows bullying really does all but disappear for these kids. (AP Photo/File)

Study finds evidence that 'It Gets Better' for gay, lesbian and bisexual teens

BY Kim Shepard  on February 4, 2013 @ 5:06 am (Updated: 6:02 am - 2/4/13 )

For the past two years, we've been hearing the message from all corners. "It gets better."

From the athletes of the Seattle Mariners and the Seahawks to the men and women of the Seattle Police Department, the idea that life will get better for gay teens who are bullied has spread across the Internet like wildfire.

Up until now, this idea has really just been anecdotal. Now, there's some hard science that shows it's true.

"Over half of LGB youth in our sample were bullied when they were 13 years old, but fewer than 10 percent were bullied when they were 19 to 20 years old," says University of Illinois researcher Joseph Robinson.

Robinson co-authored a study that looked at 187 lesbian, gay and bisexual teens along with about 4,000 other students over seven years ending in 2010.

In the first year of their study, the kids who said they were gay were bullied the most. That slowly changed over time. The researchers noticed what they called a "sea change" in the cultural acceptance of gays and a growing intolerance for bullying.

Another interesting result showed just how different things are for boys and girls. Robinson says as they got older, girls who identify as gay or bisexual seemed to be more accepted. Gay boys continued to be bullied even as young adults.

"During high school, LGB youth are bullied more than straight youth, regardless of gender," Robinson explains. "After high school, lesbian and bisexual females are bullied only as often as straight females. Rates of bullying increase for gay and bisexual males."

About half of the gay and bisexual teens say they were bullied in high school. That number dropped to 9 percent for gay boys and 6 percent for girls by the time they were 19 or 20 years old.

Researchers think it may be that masculine traits are more accepted in women than feminine traits are in men.

This study looked at teens in England, but the head of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network says she's seen similar results during her anti-bullying work in the U.S.

This study appears online in the Pediatrics journal.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Kim Shepard, KIRO Radio Reporter
Kim Shepard is a news anchor and reporter for KIRO Radio and the office optimist. She's energetic, quick to laugh and has a positive outlook on life.
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Comments (16)


  • Add A Comment

  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    It gets better.
    February 4, 2013 6:56 am
    These poor tortured souls only get better when they are free of the curse of evil that has brought them to this level.

    I doubt that it ever gets better for them any other way. This is why government is spending so much of our tax dollars on this politically motivated lifestyle and your Dear Leaders government attempting to force American to accept this as some how superior to any other lifestyle choice!

    We Americans will accept them as people with issues like ALL of us have!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shark75 wrote...
    Can it get any better
    February 4, 2013 7:14 am
    Preferential treatment in the workplace, preferential treatment in the media, preferential treatment under the law. What more do these people want for having been born with a genetic defect? So they get bullied, lots of people get bullied...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • po_guy wrote...
    For one thing (If you really want truth)
    February 4, 2013 11:08 am
    Homos are NOT born that way, they choose to be a queer. Just the facts, sir / madam...just the facts.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • shark75 wrote...
    po_guy wrote...
    February 4, 2013 7:43 am
    I agree with you. Rachel Bell and Linda Thomas lead the pack. Ron and Don bring it up the rear. I dont think there's a day that goes by without some gay story by these people and this website. Lets cover some real news please and give Rachel her own show called "Everything Gay"...preferably airing between the hours of 12-3am...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BeenThere wrote...
    It gets better for most bullied kids, regardless.
    February 4, 2013 8:09 am
    If you were vertically challenged, skinny, looked a certain way or whatever. Kids will find something to hammer on and are relentless. Some never stop being victims, others never stop being bullies. Bullies are usually more screwed up than those they bully. Ironic.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Oly80 wrote...
    true, BT...
    February 4, 2013 11:44 am
    some learn to fight back. some learn to ignore. some play the victim role their whole life.

    like you said, eventually, it gets better for most anyone who was bullied that didn't play the victim.

    bully is still a buzzword. but, it's been around forever. this is just the 'thing to focus on' of the moment for hovering parents and would be 'victims'.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cw1997 wrote...
    NOT ANOTHER
    February 4, 2013 10:55 am
    Gay story....ENOUGH ALREADY!!!!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Tracy White wrote...
    Good... good....
    February 4, 2013 11:02 am
    Let the hate flow through you. Palpatine's got a good new crop coming up....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Hectic wrote...
    Why?
    February 4, 2013 10:59 am
    Why does MYNorthwest attract some many hateful people? I guess it must be Dori, because everyone else at KIRO appears to be open minded and caring. It's too bad most people that post here are such jerks, it really takes the fun out of this website. If I were the moderator I would block everyone of you, because it doesn't seem to be "getting any better".
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • po_guy wrote...
    Oh yes...
    February 4, 2013 11:10 am
    So you would "block" free speech? You would block everyone who detests homos? Tolerant, aren't ya? But that is what we expect from those like you. Yell "homophobe" but then cannot tolerate anyone who posts or speaks against your agenda.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Hectic wrote...
    An agenda?
    February 4, 2013 11:35 am
    It's not an agenda, it's basic human rights. And people who don't allow others to live free, need to be blocked. It's no different than if you were speaking out against women, or minorities. Hate is hate, and I will always do what I can to stifle hate speech. The 1st Amendment doesn't give anyone carte blanche. Nothing is more Un-Americana than wrapping yourself in the constitution while trying to limit the rights and freedoms of your fellow citizens. You should be ashamed.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • po_guy wrote...
    I qm not ashamed.
    February 4, 2013 1:14 pm
    Those who make ever effort to further the agenda of homosexuals should be the ones who feel shame...how are you any better than GOD Himself, who calls it abomination? It is a total putrid abominable sickening immoral sin, and unfortunately it is folks like you who have allowed it to get as far as it has in society. BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS????? How deep in the excrement pit can you drag yourself and still be called human? You are the kind of person who makes me do everything I can to diffuse and denigrate the so called "rights" of those who cannot even decide what gender they are!!! Homosexuals, BAH!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HLC wrote...
    I wonder if it will stay Better For Them?
    February 4, 2013 11:29 am
    When they meet the big dude and have to explain their life choices.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Oly80 wrote...
    "Researchers think it may be that masculine traits are more accepted in women than feminine traits are in men."
    February 4, 2013 11:38 am
    if by, 'dude's don't mind chicks who think another chick is so hot that she makes out with her' as a masculine trait, then...yes. it is.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Hectic
    February 4, 2013 12:38 pm
    Feel sorry for yourself!

    As long as people like you are around, political correctness and this militant Homosexual political agenda and the regime will flourish.

    What people like you are taught to think of as hate and Homophobia is Americans expressing their freedom of speech. You need to understand this!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }