STUDENT leaders will urge classmates to call out homophobic comments as they stand with the LGBTIQ community.
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Three quarters of young LGBTIQ youth experience some form of discrimination, according to youth support group Minus18.
The Bendigo South East College students want that to end.
They are organising the school's celebrations for International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia, which takes place on Friday.
They hope it will be the first of many.
College captain Laura Hipwell said the day would involve live performances, short film screenings and advice on how to respectfully call out disparaging comments about those who identify as LGBTIQ.
"We are also having a pledge students can sign about not using homophobic remarks." Laura said.
"We will ask students and teachers to call it out, don't let it sit."
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Students would be told the best way to call people's derogatory comments out was to take them aside, rather than do it in front of everyone else, vice-captain Eliza Rogers said.
Research showed schools were the places where the most homophobic and transphobic bullying takes place, according to Minus18.
Verbal homophobia was a common form of discrimination schools had to deal with, BSE Student Representative Council facilitator Ellen-Kate Waayers said.
Some students did not realise the impact their words could have, even if they were not directly targeted at someone, she said.
"This generation seems to have grabbed onto that 'it's so gay' statement, not realising that using 'gay' in place of a word that is bad is not cool," Ms Waayers said.
She was glad students were leading the push against discrimination and hoped IDAHOBIT celebrations would become a fixture at the school.
"I've already had a number of messages from students among our community who are really keen to be involved, are really proud that we are doing this and that they have allies in the school," Ms Waayers said.
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