Homophobia and transphobia remain rampant in some schools in the province.

That’s according to Sue Rose, a local human rights educational advocate. She was responding to recent events involving the bullying of students living with issues surrounding their gender identity and sexual orientation.

Rose says schools have a major role to play. She says when homophobia and transphobia thrive, it promotes violence, and increases the chances of people graduating feeling it’s okay to be disrespectful to others.

Jessie, who started to attend school in Corner Brook in Grade Three, says she never felt a part of the school community.

She says it was really hard for her after being called “every name in the book” with people questioning whether she was a boy or a girl, forcing her to change how she was.