Challenging Homophobia in Schools Al Green – Project Lead, Healthy Gay Cornwall Trustee - YAY! LGBTQ Youth Cornwall.

Challenging Challenging Homophobia Homophobia in Schoolsin Schools

Al Green – Project Lead, Al Green – Project Lead,

Healthy Gay Cornwall Healthy Gay Cornwall

Trustee - YAY! LGBTQ Youth Trustee - YAY! LGBTQ Youth CornwallCornwall

What is Homophobic What is Homophobic Bullying?Bullying?

Just like any form of bullying or Just like any form of bullying or harassment, homophobia can include harassment, homophobia can include verbal, physical and emotional abuse by verbal, physical and emotional abuse by an individual or group but it's directed an individual or group but it's directed specifically at someone who is lesbian, gay specifically at someone who is lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) or thought to be by or bisexual (LGB) or thought to be by others. others.

What makes it different from other forms What makes it different from other forms of bullying or harassment is the personal of bullying or harassment is the personal motivation that drives it. motivation that drives it.

What Is Homophobic What Is Homophobic Bullying?Bullying?

Most homophobic bullying takes place at a Most homophobic bullying takes place at a time when young people are unsure about time when young people are unsure about their own developing identity their own developing identity

Homophobia presents itself in young Homophobia presents itself in young people as the fear of and the reaction to people as the fear of and the reaction to an issue about which they may have little an issue about which they may have little understanding/exposure and to a person understanding/exposure and to a person perceived as "different". perceived as "different".

Sometimes the bully/bullies may do so to Sometimes the bully/bullies may do so to hide their own fears/secretshide their own fears/secrets

What Is Homophobic What Is Homophobic Bullying?Bullying?

Very often young people who are being Very often young people who are being bullied or abused will not confide in a bullied or abused will not confide in a member of staff, for fear of not being member of staff, for fear of not being taken seriously, assuming that the taken seriously, assuming that the member of staff will also have a member of staff will also have a negative reaction, fear of parents negative reaction, fear of parents finding out etc.finding out etc.

Staff sometimes jump in panic from A-Z Staff sometimes jump in panic from A-Z “are you having gay sex?” – would this “are you having gay sex?” – would this happen with any other form of bullying?happen with any other form of bullying?

What Is Homophobic What Is Homophobic Bullying?Bullying?

Very often the effects of homophobia Very often the effects of homophobia last well into adulthood. Research last well into adulthood. Research shows that young LGBT people often do shows that young LGBT people often do not achieve the grades they are not achieve the grades they are capable of, have higher rates of capable of, have higher rates of smoking/alcohol/substance use, mental smoking/alcohol/substance use, mental health issues, suicide and self harm. health issues, suicide and self harm.

Internalised Homophobia takes years to Internalised Homophobia takes years to shake, very often never completely. shake, very often never completely.

Glee!Glee!

http://http://www.youtube.com/www.youtube.com/watch?watch?v=LTDDoVP4vB4v=LTDDoVP4vB4

Changing times – legislation Changing times – legislation and social changeand social change

Single Equality Act/Goods & Services 2007/2009Single Equality Act/Goods & Services 2007/2009 Civil Partnership Act 2004Civil Partnership Act 2004 Sexual Offences Act 2004Sexual Offences Act 2004 Hate Crime Laws recognise Sexual Orientation 2003Hate Crime Laws recognise Sexual Orientation 2003 Repeal of Section 28 2003Repeal of Section 28 2003 Employment Rights 2002Employment Rights 2002 Adoption Rights 2000Adoption Rights 2000 Military Ban lifted 2000Military Ban lifted 2000 Age Of Consent equalised 1998Age Of Consent equalised 1998 (Still) no compulsory anti-homophobic bullying policy (Still) no compulsory anti-homophobic bullying policy

for schools, or compulsory PSHE (we got close for schools, or compulsory PSHE (we got close though!)though!)

Surely everything in the Surely everything in the garden is rosy then?garden is rosy then?

Social change takes longer than laws and Social change takes longer than laws and policies - like racism, homophobia and acts policies - like racism, homophobia and acts motivated by it still take place both subtly motivated by it still take place both subtly and overtly in and out of school.and overtly in and out of school.

Hate crime is still massively under-Hate crime is still massively under-reported to the Policereported to the Police

Where did LGB get the idea, as adults that Where did LGB get the idea, as adults that people in a position of trust or care won’t people in a position of trust or care won’t help them?help them?

Lets not let this generation leave school Lets not let this generation leave school with those negative messages, if they do – with those negative messages, if they do – WE HAVE FAILED THEM.WE HAVE FAILED THEM.

Stonewall “The School Report” Stonewall “The School Report” (2007)(2007)

Key Findings:Key Findings: Homophobic bullying is almost endemic Homophobic bullying is almost endemic

in Britain's schools. Almost two thirds (65 in Britain's schools. Almost two thirds (65 per cent) of young lesbian, gay and per cent) of young lesbian, gay and bisexual pupils have experienced direct bisexual pupils have experienced direct bullying. bullying.

Ninety eight per cent of young gay Ninety eight per cent of young gay people hear the phrases “that’s so gay” people hear the phrases “that’s so gay” or “you’re so gay” in school, and over or “you’re so gay” in school, and over four fifths hear such comments often or four fifths hear such comments often or frequently. frequently.

Stonewall “The School Report” Stonewall “The School Report” (2007)(2007)

Key Findings:Key Findings: Ninety seven per cent of pupils hear other insulting Ninety seven per cent of pupils hear other insulting

homophobic remarks, such as “poof”, “dyke”, “rug-homophobic remarks, such as “poof”, “dyke”, “rug-muncher”, “queer” and “bender”. Over seven in muncher”, “queer” and “bender”. Over seven in ten gay pupils hear those phrases used often or ten gay pupils hear those phrases used often or frequently. frequently.

Only 23 per cent of young gay people have been Only 23 per cent of young gay people have been told that homophobic bullying is wrong in their told that homophobic bullying is wrong in their school. school. In schools that have said homophobic In schools that have said homophobic bullying IS wrong, gay young people are 60 bullying IS wrong, gay young people are 60 per cent more likely not to have been bullied. per cent more likely not to have been bullied.

Over half of lesbian and gay pupils don’t feel able Over half of lesbian and gay pupils don’t feel able to be themselves at school. Thirty five per cent of to be themselves at school. Thirty five per cent of gay pupils do not feel safe or accepted at school. gay pupils do not feel safe or accepted at school.

““That’s So Gay”That’s So Gay” Part of everyday young people’s languagePart of everyday young people’s language In 2006, Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles used the term In 2006, Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles used the term

on-air to deride a ringtone. Despite 100’s of on-air to deride a ringtone. Despite 100’s of complaints to Ofcom, The BBC governors said complaints to Ofcom, The BBC governors said that “Moyles was simply keeping up with that “Moyles was simply keeping up with developments in English usage.”developments in English usage.”

How does hearing “Gay = Worthless” feel for How does hearing “Gay = Worthless” feel for young LGB people?young LGB people?

Would we accept it if “gay” was replaced with Would we accept it if “gay” was replaced with “Paki”?“Paki”?

How do education staff respond? Do education How do education staff respond? Do education staff respond (every time?) staff respond (every time?)

Challenging homophobia in the Challenging homophobia in the classroomclassroom

Sorry to drag you here… but I don’t have Sorry to drag you here… but I don’t have all the answers. all the answers.

Challenge the language in a way that Challenge the language in a way that works for you, but ALWAYS challenge it, works for you, but ALWAYS challenge it, because SILENCE is interpreted as because SILENCE is interpreted as COLLUSION by all parties.COLLUSION by all parties.

Fear of losing respect/control if seen as Fear of losing respect/control if seen as “one of them”? – its (still) very hard in “one of them”? – its (still) very hard in schools for LGB teachers tooschools for LGB teachers too

Are we suddenly black, disabled, female, Are we suddenly black, disabled, female, older, ginger if we challenge bullying older, ginger if we challenge bullying based on other charactisterics?based on other charactisterics?

Not turning the victim into the Not turning the victim into the problemproblem

““I spoke to a young man who was born in I spoke to a young man who was born in the UK to Indian parents, who was getting the UK to Indian parents, who was getting bullied for being gay. The teacher said to bullied for being gay. The teacher said to him “well have you tried toning it down, him “well have you tried toning it down, y’know…. It might help a bit”y’know…. It might help a bit”

The young man replied “Do you want me to The young man replied “Do you want me to be a little less Asian too?”be a little less Asian too?”

It’s the schools responsibility to ensure It’s the schools responsibility to ensure young people are safe, regardless of the young people are safe, regardless of the issue, but don’t ignore the issue. issue, but don’t ignore the issue.

““Embed, not In Bed”Embed, not In Bed”

Integrate LGB issues into school curriculum on Integrate LGB issues into school curriculum on a day to day basis, in the same way as any a day to day basis, in the same way as any other diversity issue – eg: English lit, History, other diversity issue – eg: English lit, History, Art, Music, IT, ScienceArt, Music, IT, Science

Black History Month, International Women’s Black History Month, International Women’s day, Holocaust Memorial Day…. LGBT History day, Holocaust Memorial Day…. LGBT History Month? Gay Pride? World AIDS Day?Month? Gay Pride? World AIDS Day?

Displaying posters/info about sexual Displaying posters/info about sexual orientation sends a really positive message to orientation sends a really positive message to those who are questioning or being bullied.those who are questioning or being bullied.

Lets not be too negativeLets not be too negative Some really good work done in Cornish Some really good work done in Cornish

schools to integrate sexual orientation into schools to integrate sexual orientation into the learning experience, particularly in the learning experience, particularly in primary education.primary education.

Anti-Bullying policies are useful tools, even Anti-Bullying policies are useful tools, even if they don’t have to be specific around if they don’t have to be specific around homophobia. “Safe To Learn” offers some homophobia. “Safe To Learn” offers some really good advice on how to embed into really good advice on how to embed into school policy and environmentschool policy and environment

Not all young people are homophobic!Not all young people are homophobic! External support for young people (LGBTQ External support for young people (LGBTQ

Youth Cornwall)Youth Cornwall)

HM Govt. “HM Govt. “Working for Lesbian,Gay, Bisexual and

Transgender Equality: Moving Forward” Rationalise and simplify anti-bullying guidance Extend head teachers powers to respond to

homophobia based bullying in & out of school Reform Osted inspections to give all forms of

prejudice based bullying more prominence Work with schools on issues around cyber-

bullying Work with govt. led review of national

curriculum to explore how to embed equality & inclusion

So what is there in So what is there in Cornwall?Cornwall?

YAY! LGBTQ Youth Cornwall: YAY! LGBTQ Youth Cornwall: www.lgbtqyouthcornwallwww.lgbtqyouthcornwall

The Intercom Trust: The Intercom Trust: www.intercomtrust.org.ukwww.intercomtrust.org.uk

Healthy Gay Cornwall:Healthy Gay Cornwall:

www.healthygaycornwall.org.ukwww.healthygaycornwall.org.uk Devon & Cornwall Police Diversity TeamDevon & Cornwall Police Diversity Team

www.devon-cornwall.police.ukwww.devon-cornwall.police.uk

Useful websitesUseful websites

www.stonewall.org.uk/at_school/www.stonewall.org.uk/at_school/ www.schools-out.org.ukwww.schools-out.org.uk www.itgetsbetter.orgwww.itgetsbetter.org http://www.equalities.gov.uk/pdf/http://www.equalities.gov.uk/pdf/

405215_GEO_LGBT_acc%5b1%5d.pdf405215_GEO_LGBT_acc%5b1%5d.pdf

10 things a School can do to 10 things a School can do to prevent Homophobic Bullyingprevent Homophobic Bullying

Acknowledge & identify the problem Acknowledge & identify the problem (monitor and respond to incidents)(monitor and respond to incidents)

Develop policies with young peopleDevelop policies with young people Promote a positive social environment Promote a positive social environment

(challenge language and behaviour)(challenge language and behaviour) Address Staff training needs (look at Address Staff training needs (look at

us!)us!) Provide information and support(use Provide information and support(use

existing media, internet/moodle, school existing media, internet/moodle, school library etclibrary etc

10 things a School can do to 10 things a School can do to prevent Homophobic Bullyingprevent Homophobic Bullying

Integrate sexual orientation into the Integrate sexual orientation into the curriculum (“relationships” work doesn’t curriculum (“relationships” work doesn’t start and end in PSHE classes)start and end in PSHE classes)

Use outside experience – plenty of people Use outside experience – plenty of people willing to help nationally and locallywilling to help nationally and locally

Encourage Role Models (make sure those Encourage Role Models (make sure those people have support though)people have support though)

Don’t make assumptions (tread carefully Don’t make assumptions (tread carefully and ask if not sure)and ask if not sure)

Celebrate Achievements (be proud that Celebrate Achievements (be proud that you’ve made progress!)you’ve made progress!)

ThanksThanks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHfM_iV-554&feature=related

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01209 313419