Starting a Gay Straight Alliance in Your School Challenging homophobia Training teachers Finding resources Having fun Changing your school.
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Transcript Starting a Gay Straight Alliance in Your School Challenging homophobia Training teachers Finding resources Having fun Changing your school.
Starting a Gay Straight
Alliance in Your School
Challenging homophobia
Training teachers
Finding resources
Having fun
Changing your school
Why start a GSA?
65% of LGB (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual) people
experience homophobic bullying
97% of LGB students hear derogatory phrases
such as “dyke” or “poof” used in school
1/2 of teachers fail to respond to homophobic
language when they hear it. “The School Report” Stonewall 2007
A
Gay Straight Alliance can be a place of
support and education!
Set
What can a GSA do?
up staff training
Create a safe place for LGBT people
Meet awesome people
Change the climate of your school!
Have LGBT friendly social events
Get connected to LGBT organizations
and support groups
Convince Your School
Effects of homophobia
Statistics
More statistics
Legislation
The Costs of Homophobia
Alcohol
and drug misuse
Truancy to escape persecution
Giving up on academic achievement
Too
hard to work in a hostile environment
Suffering
from mental and/or physical
health conditions
Such
as eating disorders, as a result of anxiety
and eroded self esteem
Homophobia in Schools
98% of LGBT pupils hear “that’s so gay” at school
75% of young LGBT people in faith schools experience
homophobic bullying and are less likely than pupils in
other schools to report it
Only 1/4 of schools say that homophobic bullying is
wrong in their school
30% of LGBT pupils report that adults are responsible
for homophobic incidents at their school
“The School Report” Stonewall 2007
58%
of LGBT pupils don’t report bullying when they
experience it
If a teacher is informed, 62% of the time, nothing is
done
7% of teachers
are reported to
hear homophobic language
90%
of 15-24 year olds have been
of their sexuality
respond
when they
“The School Report” Stonewall 2007
called names
because
“Profiles of Prejudice” Stonewall and Mori 2003
Black, Asian, disabled and younger pupils are
all more likely to experience homophobic
violence
“Uneven Vulnerability” GALOP
Your Legal Rights
Policy!
Language?
The government is on your side
Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) 2007
Discrimination
Is
when you are treated less favorably than someone else
because of your real or perceived sexual orientation.
It is unlawful for your school to discriminate against a
person who seeks to use its facilities or services based
on real or perceived sexual orientation.
Starting
It
a GSA
is unlawful for your school to discriminate against a
pupil by refusing the pupil access to any benefit, facility
or service based on real or perceived sexual orientation.
Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) 2007
(what it means)
Clubs
If
your school has other school sponsored clubs
but won’t let you start a GSA because of the
“nature of the club” it is being discriminatory
under the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation)
School
You
Activities
are allowed to take part in all school
activities such as sports, lessons, assemblies
and dances and can’t be denied access because
of real or perceived sexual orientation
Learning and Skills Act 2000
Sex and Relationship Guide 2000
It is now required for teachers to:
Challenge stigmatism of LGBT families in lessons about
families, marriages and stable relationships
Give positive information of LGBT people to enable pupils
to challenge derogatory stereotypes and prejudice
Challenge all forms of homophobic bullying
Ofsted
will now include addressing
homophobic bullying in their inspections
Every Child Matters (DfES 2004)
Ofsted will report on how schools promote:
Physical and mental health
Safety and protection from harm and
neglect
Enjoying and achieving
Positive contributions by being
positively involved in community and
society
Economic wellbeing
Schools
What it all Means
are currently hostile environments for
LGBT students and their allies
Schools have a responsibility to protect their
students regardless of sexual orientation
Schools are legally required to promote equality
and safety
Schools can’t discriminate based on real or
perceived sexual orientation
You
have the right to be safe and
comfortable at school and your school has
the responsibility to make sure you are!
Language?
The
queer alphabet: LGBTQQAIP…
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, a-sexual,
intersexed, pansexual
Homo/Bi/Transphobia
The irrational fear and hatred of LGBT people
A homo/bi/transphobic incident is any incident which is perceived to be
homo/bi/transphobic to the victim or another person
It is directed to impact those known or perceived to be LGBT
Heterosexism
Is a set of assumptions and practices that promotes heterosexual
relationships as the only ’natural’ and valid form of sexual orientation
Recognises/rewards those who are heterosexual and ignores/penalises
those who are not
Sexual
Orientation
Describes who you are physically and sexually attracted to
Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Questioning, Straight
Biological characteristics such as chromosomes, genitalia, hormones
Female, Male, Intersexed
Sex
Gender
How you feel and experience your gender
Not defined by your sex!
Gender is fluid: masculine, feminine, androgynous, genderqueer…
A person who doesn’t identify with their biological sex
Might go through surgery, might not
Transgender
Ally
A
straight person who is supportive of the LGBT community
How do you start a GSA?
Find
some supportive friends who want to
help out
Ask a teacher to be a sponsor
Establish the club like any other club
Look in your Student Handbook for the rules at your school. This may include
getting permission from senior management, finding an advisor, and/or writing a
constitution.
Inform
the senior management team
It can be very helpful to have the senior management on your side. They can work
as liaisons on your behalf with other teachers, parent groups, community
members, and the school board. If the senior management team is resistant to
the GSA, let them know that forming a GSA club is protected under the Equality
Act (Sexual Orientation)
Inform
They might know some students who would be interested in joining
Pick
a meeting place and advertise
Figure out the best way to advertise at your school. It may be a
combination of school bulletin announcements, flyers, and word-ofmouth. If your flyers are defaced or torn down, do not be discouraged.
Keep putting them back up. Eventually, whoever is tearing them down
will give up.
Advertising for your group and having words up such as "gay, lesbian,
bisexual, transgender, or questioning" or "end homophobia" or "discuss
sexual orientation" can be part of educating the school and can actually
make other students feel safer -- even if they never attend a single
meeting.
Bring
guidance counselors/school nurses
food
Everyone loves food!
GSA Network “How to Start a GSA”
But My School’s Too Homophobic!
How to start a GSA without support
Getting support
Staying safe
Be prepared
Alternatives
Find supportive people
Inform your senior management
and staff
about the laws protecting LGBT youth
Ask staff to discuss LGBT History Month,
IDAHO (International Day Against
Homophobia) and other LGBT events
Bring your friends to LGBT youth groups
Stay informed!
Friends
Parents
Finding Support
If your parents or guardians are supportive, they can be a great
resource to pressure the school
Staff
Is there an openly LGBT teacher?
Are guidance counselors/school nurses supportive?
Is there a health or PHSRE/citizenship teacher?
Community
support
Community LGBT youth groups have great resources and could provide
you with an ally
National organizations such as Schools OUT, Chrysalis and Stonewall
have many contacts and will know someone in your area
REMEMBER!
You have the legal right to have a GSA
and to feel safe at your school
Staying Safe
Don’t
do anything that will put you in
physical harm
Always
plan events with teachers and senior management
present
Inform your staff advisor of your plans in advance
Hold events in a safe space with allies and friends present
Know
Look
your rights
over your school’s student handbook and know your rights
at school
Talk with community groups to get ideas for safe events
Keep it Simple
Start
out slow
Make
it about safety
Before
you plan a school assembly on homophobia,
introduce more subtle ways to combat ignorance and
intolerance
Put up safe space posters in teacher’s classrooms
Give teachers and librarians LGBT friendly books and
movies to put up and show off
Hold a meeting with senior management and staff about
the needs of LGBT students at your school
Creating
a GSA and having LGBT friendly events is about
creating a safe space for LGBT people to learn and live
Be Prepared
Can
be hard work
Setting
up a GSA and running LGBT friendly
events can be hard work, especially when
dealing with tough senior management and
staff.
Make sure to take time for yourself and have
some fun
Celebrate your achievements and always keep a
supportive group of friends and allies with you
Fun activities
Resources and tools
Developing a strategy
Creating change
Ideas!
Planning events
Having fun
Being inclusive
Getting resources
Safe space posters
LGBT friendly posters
Fundraising
LGBT History Month!
Surveys
Day of Silence
Public Speaking
Training Staff!
Fun Things To Do
LGBT movie night
Throw a party
IDAHO
Have a picnic or baking party
Plan trips to LGBT places in town
Coffee shops
LGBT youth groups
Dance
party
Being Inclusive
Make
sure every one has a space to speak
Be sure every one is comfortable
Don’t separate into “boys” and “girls”
Hold anti-oppression/racism workshops
Commission
Build
for Equality and Human Rights
coalitions with other clubs and
community groups
Remember, LGBT people are
diverse
Asian
Indian
extraordinary successful
fathers
parents sons smart
White foster parents
uncles
Mixed-heritage
teachers scientists
sisters friends
religious
brothers
farmers
students Black
mothers
family
workmates
ordinary
grandparents
In-laws
friends
athletes
daughters
Getting Resources
Community
Schools
Groups
OUT
LGBT youth groups
Community and school
counselors
Online
GSA
Network
LGBT History Month
Stonewall
Queer Youth Network
EACH
Chrysalis
No Outsiders
National Union of
Teachers
Give to supportive teachers to
put in classrooms
Put GSA information on them so
people know where to go
The "Safe Zone" symbol is a
message to LGBT youth and adult
allies. A person displaying this
symbol is one who will be
understanding, supportive, and
trustworthy if a LGBT youth
needs help, advice, or just
someone with whom they can talk
GSA Network “Hate Free Zone”
Safe Space Posters
Club
bank account
Become familiar with your school's system for financing student
organizations. How do clubs set up bank accounts? Where will donations
go? Who will donation checks be made out to? Who has the power to
sign checks? Talk to other student leaders at your school, your advisor,
and the senior management team to get ideas and advice.
Fundraising
Fundraising
as a club activity
Have a bake sale or car wash - it's not very original, but it usually
works. Or add your own twist - instead of selling just cookies, sell
cookies with rainbow chocolate chips.
Sponsor a play, concert, or other cultural event to benefit your GSA.
You might also consider donating part of the proceeds to a community
organization or charity.
Look into community grant making programs.
GSA Network “GSA Fundraising”
Survey Your School
Teachers
listening?
and senior management not
Use
already made surveys as a guide
Survey your own school to show that
homophobia is a problem
Find
out what problems are most
important at your school
LGBT History Month
Every
February is LGBT History Month
Now in its fourth year, LGBT HM is the
largest cultural and educational LGBT event
in world
Celebrate LGBT history at your school with
posters, assemblies, movies, speakers and
parties
Day of Silence
The Day of Silence is an annual event held to bring attention
to anti-LGBT bullying, harassment and discrimination in
schools. Students and teachers will observe the day in
silence to echo the silence that LGBT and ally students face
everyday
Inform teachers and senior management for their support
Make badges, T-Shirts and flyers to advertise the day
Have a rally before school to get everyone involved and
excited
Don’t speak for the entire day!
Training Staff
Schools
OUT leads staff training about anti-LGBT
harassment, discrimination, bullying and the
development of an inclusive curriculum
Training teaches staff how to respond to
homophobic bullying, create a school environment
that is safe for everyone and create and deliver a
curriculum that is appropriate to the needs of all
To
get your staff trained, contact Schools
OUT www.schools-out.org.uk
Peer Education Workshops
Educating your peers about issues of sexual orientation and
homophobia can be one of the most effective ways to make
your school safer for LGBTQ students, and GSAs are a
great framework for implementing an anti-homophobia peer
education program.
Come up with a lesson plan for the workshop or download one
online from a LGBT community group
Some
places to look are:
GSA
Network
Schools OUT
Chrysalis
Points to Remember
There
is something you can do about
the homophobia at your school
There is legislation that protects you
There are support organizations that
can help you
School is legally supposed to be a
safe place to learn for everyone