This sounds like a perception study. The classic perception studies revolve around college students and drinking. The perception is that drinking occurs at a much higher rate than it does in actuality. Why? Everyone knows some one (or two) that drinks often or “binges” on the weekends and that translates to an overall higher population in the students’ minds. Comparing the “perception” rate to self-reported drinking, there is usually a huge disparity. Overall drinking occurs much less than students perceive. Reports by R.A.’s and other officials have backed this up.
So now we have a group of younger people (who tend to be more egocentric), who likely hang out with more “LGBT” than “straight” students. They might see more students in the first group get in trouble than in the second group. That would lead to a natural perception that they get more punishments. If, in reality, they don’t this is setting up a whole group of teens for more disenfranchisement than they already have.
Interesting observations. Thanks.