Gays `victimised by school bullies'

MORE THAN three-quarters of lesbians and gay men who declared their sexuality while still at school suffered from homophobic bullying, according to the findings of a survey released last night.

Research by the gay equality campaign group Stonewall has shown that 77 per cent of lesbians and gays were bullied, with 37 per cent suffering physical abuse. The findings, from a written questionnaire filled in by 1,076 Stonewall members, have been released to coincide with a dispute between a school and an openly gay pupil over allegations that he was singled out for being homosexual.

James Hudson, 18, alleges that he suffered a broken nose in an attack at Leeds Grammar School. He has accused the school of failing to provide him with a safe environment for his studies. The school was not available for comment.