LGBT teaching Pages

©Amnesty International 2007-11 DEALING WITH LGBT ISSUES IN THE CLASSROOM This guide aims to help Teachers understand and support Students with LGBT issues, It also contains helpful resources to tackle homophobia and bullying in schools.


Schools have an important role to play in providing safe and secure environment for every one of their students. Even though schools will have many LGBT young people among their student population they will, more often than not, be invisible. Teachers should know about policy, procedures and relevant content, facts and issues in order to tackle homophobic bullying.

*Click on image to watch the "It gets better...today" message from our Prime Minister, David Cameron*

Working to address homophobia and tackle homophobic bullying will help you to meet your legal obligations as a teacher: a) The five outcomes for children as described in Every Child Matters and the Children Act, 2004 b) The behaviour and attendance strand of the Key Stage 3 Strategy c) The Primary National Strategy and the primary behaviour and attendance pilot. d) State schools have a duty of care to ensure the safety and to protect the emotional well-being of every person in their care. -Children Act 1989. e) "Head teachers are required to develop policies and procedures to prevent all forms of harassment". -Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998.



"I used to be physically ill at the thought of going to school… I would get my books and pretend to go off to school, but the minute I turned the corner I was off to a secret place I could hide."
____________________

Useful Resources to tackling Homophobia and Homophobic Bullying Click on logos and links for more information

Schools need to promote equality of opportunity for all students and staff regardless of their sexual orientation, and include this in their policies on equal opportunities, behaviour and the curriculum. Click here for resources on homophobia


Them and Us A step by step guide to help you address homophobia and homophobic bullying in School. It includes anti-homophobia policies and examples of good practice in secondary schools. To download the PDF click here.


click on image to view


For Legislation and DfEE Guidance on Tackling Homophobia in schools, click here


Click here to download this PDF


Anti-bullying Charter You can use this charter to agree that the school will not tolerate bullying. Click here for more information.


The Sex and Relationship Education Guidance (0116/2000) states that sex and relationship education (SRE) should be firmly rooted within the framework for personal, social and health education (PSHE) and citizenship. Click here to read.


Anti-discrimination Legislation Governing Bodies need to ensure that personnel practices in their school take full account of these new legal requirements, alongside their established arrangements for promoting diversity and avoiding discrimination on grounds of sex, race or disability. Click here for an Extract from this legislation.


This is a DVD resource for teachers to help them better understand and tackle homophobia and homophobic bullying in schools from the Mayor of London and Stonewall. For a copy email: education@stonewall.org.uk


For resources on bullying click here.



Useful Websites to take the issue further Click on logo or link for more information


NATURE vs NURTURE: Is sexual orientation determined at birth? This site presents in a simple, nonpartisan pro-con format, responses to this core question. They have divided questions about the topic into the issues and sub-issues. All individuals and organizations quoted on our site are ranked based upon our unique credibility scale.


Offers resources and research for primary schools.


A joint campaign developed by Stonewall, FFLAG and LGBT Youth Scotland whose aim is to ensure that all young LGBT people can fulfil their potential, and that the UK’s schools and education systems can deal appropriately with homophobia and homophobic bullying. Click here to download the teaching document or click for more resources here.


A charity that serves to promote the health and well being of lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people and those who have same-sex attraction and we do this by offering direct support services, such as counselling and advocacy for LGB&T community members, as well as delivering staff training around sexual orientation, giving a presentation on LGB&T matters or delivering a workshop on specific experiences.


The first charity in the UK established specifically to prevent bullying and child sexual abuse.


Used as a teaching resource in schools and youth organisations. The schools’ section has lots of information for head teachers, teachers, school ancillary workers and youth organisations.


Helps thousands of pupils and their parents deal with school bullying every year.


now available through TES , has a range of resources and film clips to help you introduce the subject of Homophobic Bullying and other issues.


An independent charity where teachers and lecturers can get confidential support 24/7. They offer telephone counselling, coaching via email, financial assistance, information, resources and referrals to relevant organisations. It also helps LGBT teachers experiencing Homophobia at work by refering incidents of discrimination and harassment to the unions. Click here to access their InfoCentre of over 1000 searchable factsheets.

Spare Tyre’s history of producing bold and powerful theatre that inspires and challenges stretches over 30 years. Spare Tyre previously ran a strand called Thinking Pink which tackled homophobic bullying in schools and included shows Burning and Pretend Families. Resources from this strand are still available.


This theatre group works with students of all ages using theatre-in-education to focus on the impact of inappropriate attitudes and behaviours. Support and advice for staff is also provided. They also encourage honest discussion and debate about issues which affect your community.


They provide awareness and/or equality training workshops on all 6 Equality areas for front line staff and managers.


_________________________ "Bullying causes permanent damage to young people and blights the schools and colleges where it takes place. One of the most invisible forms is homophobic bullying. But it’s not just a gay issue. Homophobia affects all pupils and students – lesbian, gay, bisexual and straight." Stonewall __________________________

Click here for a collection of video clips on homophobia.

Further Reading

Click here for a list of related books & resources	Click here for a link to LGBT History


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