Tackling Homophobia

By Jonathan Robinson

Director of Teaching School

09.06.15

Advanced Learning Alliance

“That’s so gay!”

“When you’re with the Flintstones, have a yabba dabba doo time, a dabba doo time, we’ll have a gay old time.”

Homophobia in Britain’s Schools• 98% of gay students and 95% of school staff hear phrases

like ‘You’re so gay’ every day at school.• 65% of young LGB students admit to being bullied at

school.• 97% of students hear abusive language, like ‘dyke’ and

‘queer’ (and over 70% say they hear such terms often).• Less than 23% of young gay people say they have been

taught at school that homophobia is wrong.• More than 50% of lesbian and gay students feel they

cannot be themselves at school.• 35% of gay students do not feel safe or accepted at school.• 30% of gay and lesbian teenagers say that adults at school

have been responsible for bullying them verbally or physically.

In a piece of research, Stonewall found that only 46 minutes of TV programming showed a positive image of gays out of 126 hours.

Two Case Studies

#1

A confident and popular

Year 9 girl comes out as

a lesbian to her peers.

No discernable bullying

takes place and she

becomes a positive role

model in Year Group.

#2

A Year 11 boy who has

few friends, is bullied and

struggles socially confides

in his form teacher that he’s

gay and wants to come out

to his Year Group, because

he’s fed up of living a lie.

Specific Issue: Struggling with Sexuality

Useful website:

http://www.youngstonewall.org.uk/

Typical questions:1. Am I gay?2. Is it just a phase?3. Was I born gay?

Specific Issue: Coming Out

Useful website:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/advice/factfile_az/coming_out

Typical questions:

1. How should I come out?

2. How will my parents react?

3. What if I get bullied?

Single Equality Duty

All state schools have a duty to tackle discrimination, bullying and harassment and

promote equality for all members of the school community irrespective of an

individual’s sexual orientation.

Discussing / talking about alternatives to heterosexuality is perfectly legal in the

context of the above paragraph.

Advice for Tackling Homophobia

Students struggling with their sexuality

• Assume nothing• Listen actively• Direct to support• Record• Monitor• Keep communicating

Straight students

ANTI-BULLYING POLICY

Preventing HomophobiaCurriculum (examples)

• Study of an author or poet• Drama and playwrights• Study major relevant historical

events• Dispelling myths around HIV and

AIDS and STIs, and paedophilia• Film: (e.g. Milk)• Looking at positive contributions of

gay figures in culture and society at large

• Study sexuality from different religious perspectives, including those positive towards gays

Pastoral (examples)

• Assemblies• Form time discussions• Quizzes• Displays• Guest speakers• Role plays• News items• Charity fundraising or volunteering

(THT)• PSHE – sexuality and

relationships• Duty of Care

http://www.tht.org.uk/howwecanhelpyou/youngpeople/rewritinghistory/

Further Support for Teachers

TeacherNet

http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/behaviour/tacklingbullying/homophobicbullying/adviceforteachersandschoolstaff/

Stonewallhttp://www.stonewall.org.uk/at_school/education_resources/default.asp