Ever feel like your sexual identity is making it hard to feel safe? Read on...

Discovering and embracing your sexual identity can be challenging for anyone. Heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality and unsure are all valid sexual orientations; recognising and feeling comfortable with whichever sexual orientation you identify with is an important part of maturing.

Homophobic bullying is anything from teasing people for being gay or for being perceived as gay to calling them anti-gay names, even in jest, to spreading rumors about people's sexual orientation for the purpose of making fun of them to hitting, throwing rocks at, and isolating people who are believed to be gay.

A 2008 survey of of the The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network  found that nearly 9 out of 10 LGBT middle school students (86.2%) experienced harassment at school in the past year, three-fifths (60.8%) felt unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation and about a third (32.7%) skipped a day of school in the past month because of feeling unsafe.

The best remeby for homophobic bullying is a supportive friend, family member or other mentor. There are many organzations out there operating local chapters. To find a chapter meeting near you, visit  Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).

For more info on being comfortable with your sexual identity, visit www.teenwire.com.