Tackling Homophobia in Haydon School

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Tackling Homophobia in Haydon School
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Is this true in your school?

• The Terrence Higgins Trust and Stonewall survey
  of more than 300 schools in England and Wales
  found in 1996
• 82 were aware of verbal homophobic bullying in
  their school 99 had an anti bullying policy in
  school However only 6 recognised homophobic
  bullying within their policy.

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The excuses..

• Staff have perhaps heard of Section 28 and think
  their hands are tied.
• Some schools claim that parents may object to
  them doing this work.
• Name calling is part of growing up.

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Stonewall

• a lobby group that provides information to
  government agencies, including the DfES
  recommend
• Schools include homophobia in the bullying policy
• Define homophobic bullying within the policy
• Have clear procedures in dealing with bullying
• Take quick and effective action

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Lesbian Gay mens experiences of being bullied
at school
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Where does homophobic bullying take place?
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Homophobic bullying

• Includes, but not limited to
• Calling another student gay, poof, dyke, lesbo.
• Isolating a student because there are more
  masculine or feminine than others
• Physical violence towards another student for
  acting different

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Address the use of language

• The words gay, lesbian bisexual are
  stigmatised or used negatively. This should be
  challenged
• Discussion You overhear a student say to a
  friend - thats gay. What action should you
  take?

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Staff attitudes language

• Be aware of your own use of language
• Staff are often unaware that a single comment can
  spark bullying

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Dealing with homophobia

• Challenge students using negative language -
  thats gay
• Dont accept any kind of name calling in your
  classroom or around the school
• Any violence must be dealt with immediately

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The next steps

• Provide positive images of lesbian gay people
  along-side those of other individuals and
  community groups,
• acknowledging the sexuality of famous and
  successful lesbians gay people both past and
  present. The work needs to be placed in a wider
  context where lesbians and gay men are seen as
  citizens and participants in a wide range of
  activities both past and present.
• This should happen in the same way as ensuring
  work presented to pupils includes positive images
  of black, minority ethnic people, women and
  people with disabilities, etc.
• A school should celebrate diversity
• Discussion Give an example of how you could
  include a positive image of a famous gay man or
  lesbian within a lesson.

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Why bother?

• Haydon School is committed to individual
  excellence in a caring community
• This must include students that may be gay or
  lesbian.
• Schools have a legal duty to provide a safe
  place for all their students and staff.