Today I decided to take on the subject of gay people being bullied. If you are considered a 'gay person' by your surroundings, know that you should not be outcasted just because of your life choice. In my eyes you are just a person. Many people I'm close to are called straight, but you know what I call them? Friends. Sadly, not all of society feels the same way. For choosing this lifestyle, thousands of people are tormented because of it. A 13-year-old lesbian from Ohio, talks about how coming out lead to name calling and social isolation. "I came out of the closet and it felt good at first. But then people started being jerks. I got called "lesbo" and "that lesbian chick" all day and all my supposed friends won't hang out with me anymore. It sucks. Lunch is the worst. I hate it when you sit down at a table and everyone gets up at once and leaves. It's like I have an infectious disease that if they sit near me they'll get." Older kids are less likely to be bullied, but they aren't exempt from it. An 18-year-old, who ended up failing math one year, recalls his experience in that class. "My math class was in a really small classroom. I sat in the front, or near the front, and everyone else sat in the back row. They hated me being gay and would throw paper balls at me and stuff, and call me names (which I didn't mind up till the teacher wouldn't help me)."

(Original Article Found At respectme.org.uk)

Just over two thirds of the Scottish population reported having a religion in the 2001 census. The most common faith was Christianity followed by Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism and Hinduism. 27% of people stated their religion as 'other' and 27.5% of people stated that they had no religion. Bullying based on religion is directed against individuals and groups because of their actual or perceived religious belief or their connection with a particular religion or belief. For example, someone may be targeted because of the religion of a friend or family member, or because they are wrongly assumed to belong to a particular faith community, due to their appearance. And even if the individual is, no one has the right to make them feel any less then other people. Persons may also experience bullying because they don't hold a particular faith or because of their philosophical beliefs that shape their view of the world they live in...