Teach with Pride
Young people should feel safe in schools
Young people are more accepting of their LGBT+ friends than ever before. However, we know that school life can still often be very difficult for our young people. More than half of lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils have experienced direct bullying. The use of homophobic language is a particular issue in schools. Almost all gay young people hear the phrases ‘that’s so gay’ or ‘you’re so gay’ in school and of gay pupils hear homophobic language such as ‘poof’ or ‘lezza’. Homophobic bullying has a profoundly damaging impact on young people’s school experience. One in three gay pupils experiencing bullying change their future educational plans because of it and three in five say it impacts directly on their school work. LGBT+ people who are bullied are at a higher risk of suicide, self-harm and depression. Young people need to feel safe to learn!
We know that teachers want help to tackle bullying effectively and to make everyone feel welcome and where there is training taking place, school can feel very different.
Norwich Pride’s Education Lead is Nick O’Brien
Nick is an LGBT+ activist in the National Education Union (NEU) and teacher at Dereham Neatherd High School.
What is the Teach with Pride group going to do about it?
- We want to send a clear message that LGBT-phobia in schools is unacceptable and needs to be challenged.
- We want to help produce, share and signpost easy to use teaching resources and strategies for use in primary and secondary schools. We have worked with and organised joint meetings with different groups including Educate and Celebrate and Schools Out.
- We try and link different LGBT+ groups up across the region and our host a schools screening at Cinema City in the lead up to Pride.
- We want to provide opportunities for LGBT+ teachers and allies to network and build confidence
What is your own coming out story?
This is a teaching resource that can be used with most students if adapted. It focusses on what it means to “come out” and encourages people who are not necessarily LGBT to show empathy with the decisions and feelings that LGBT people have.
It can be launched in English or PSHE sessions or can be slotted into a collective worship/ form time slot.
- Download What is your own coming out story? (662 KB PowerPoint file)
This lesson was inspired by “OUT140: The Little Book of Coming Out Stories” and copies of the book will need to be purchased (normal price £1.40 but please ask for the educational discount). For more information contact shell@shellytelly.co.uk.
IDAHO Day
May 17th is IDAHO Day – the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.
We are encouraging all schools to fly the rainbow flag where possible and raise awareness with your students.
Teaching resources
Our Education Officer, Nick O’Brien, has provided teaching resources that he has found very useful in relation to IDAHO day.
The Powerpoint link below is a teaching resource from Nick O’Brien that can be used to facilitate lesson three in the UNESCO lesson plans – “The Mixing it up” activity. This activity is suitable for all students on secondary school age and best delivered in PSHE lessons or form time.
LGBT History Month
Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans History Month takes place every year in February. It celebrates the lives and achievements of the LGBT community.
The team behind LGBT History Month are committed to celebrate its diversity and that of the society as a whole. They encourage everyone to see diversity and cultural pluralism as the positive forces that they are and endeavour to reflect this in all they do.
UK Website: lgbthistorymonth.org.uk
Norfolk Website: www.lgbthistorymonthnorfolk.org.uk
The following resources are available to support the teaching of LGBT History Month and to aid discussion:
- “LGBT History Month 2014” is a powerpoint for an assembly on the topic of music, centered around Gay composer Benjamin Britten and Bisexual rapper Azealia Banks. Features two video clips.
- “Gay History Timeline” is a Tarsia Puzzle where students have to match dates/ LGBT events. You need to download free from www.mmlsoft.com/index.php/products/tarsia to open. Also see the accompanying Word document. Excellent package for teachers.
- The “Mixing it up activity” is a PSHE lesson for all ages.
- “Famous LGBT People” PDF is a resource by www.exceedingexpectations.org.uk, useful as a prompt for discussion in form time.
- “Tom Daley’s coming out video” – suitable for form time or a PSHE lesson. Some info on Tom, a link to the video he made for fans, some comprehension questions and a possible living graph activity.
- “John Grant’s Glacier video” – suitable for a form time, PSHE or music lesson. Some info on John, link to the video, activity is listing moments from LGBT History that appear. Possible follow on if member of staff wants to focus on one of the incidents – for example – Stonewall Riots, Harvey Milk. Be aware of “swearing warning” on slide one. Use with discretion. Placed in context should be fine for most KS4 classes.
Rita Adair, Senior Lead Educational Psychologist, has collated Norfolk Pack for LGBT History Month containing information on resources that schools will find useful to use during LGBT History Month. This includes relevant policy documents, training resources and materials to be used in the classroom:
Di Cunningham from Pride Live! has pulled together a list of key Musicians and Songs for LGBT History Month in collaboration with Jules Bremner.
- Word Document: Pride Live! List of LGBT Musicians
- PDF Version: Pride Live! List of LGBT Musicians
More information
For more information on how you can Teach with Pride and tackle homophobia and transphobia in your school,
email n.obrien80@googlemail.com or education@norwichpride.org.uk