Supporting LGBT Young People in Education Graeme Ross Education Capacity Building Officer Graeme.ross@lgbtyouth.org.uk @graememross

www.lgbtyouth.org.uk Our mission is to empower lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people and the wider LGBT community so that they are embraced as full members of the Scottish family at home, school and in every community.

www.lgbtyouth.org.uk LGBT Stands For: Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender But what do these words mean?

www.lgbtyouth.org.uk Lesbian - a female who is emotionally and/or physically attracted to other females. Gay - A male who is emotionally and/or physically attracted to other males. Some women and girls prefer to refer to themselves as gay women rather than lesbian. Bisexual - a person who is emotionally and/or physically attracted to women and men.

www.lgbtyouth.org.uk Transgender - an umbrella term used to describe a range of people whose gender identity or gender expression differs in some way from the assumptions made about them when they were born. Gender Identity = an individual’s internal self-perception of own gender. Gender Expression = an individual’s external gender-related physical appearance and behaviour.

PPLGBTQQIA ADG, NB,GQ,GF,2S www.lgbtyouth.org.uk PPLGBTQQIA ADG, NB,GQ,GF,2S

Issues affecting LGBT young people in Scotland? www.lgbtyouth.org.uk Issues affecting LGBT young people in Scotland?

LGBT Youth Charter of Rights Wallace High School Our Journey Towards  LGBT Youth Charter of Rights

WHS // LGBT Youth Charter of Rights Champion Group Training Policy Practice Promotion Monitoring and Evaluating

Champion Group WHS // LGBT Youth Charter of Rights Consists of approx. 9 core pupil members and 3 staff. Meet weekly as a lunchtime club. Providing a safe space for pupils. Over time it has developed into a predominately pupil led group.   “The group gives me a place where I can be who I want to be. I don’t need to pretend.”

Training WHS // LGBT Youth Charter of Rights LGBT Youth Training sessions for staff. Opportunity to personalise training and focus on certain areas.  Positive feedback from staff.  Staff felt more confident in dealing with LGBT issues, particularly addressing homophobic or transphobic bullying within the classroom. 

Policy WHS // LGBT Youth Charter of Rights Update of Sexual Health and Relationships Education Update in school bullying policies Updating school referral system

WHS // LGBT Youth Charter of Rights Promotion

Evaluation and Monitoring WHS // LGBT Youth Charter of Rights Evaluation and Monitoring Listening to our young people Listening to staff

Wallace High School Sharon Glass glasss07s@glow.sch.uk @WHS_LGBT_

www.lgbtyouth.org.uk Impact on All Pupils Any young person can experience homophobic, biphobic or transphobic bullying. Homophobia, biphobia and transphobia can put pressure on young people to act aggressively towards people who are perceived to be LGBT. Unchallenged pejorative language sets up young people to fail in future study and employment. .

www.lgbtyouth.org.uk Impact on All Pupils Homophobia, biphobia and transphobia can make it difficult for young people to be close friends with someone who is the same sex or who identifies as LGBT. Young people are already hearing about LGBT issues. It is important that young people have access to accurate information and that prejudiced attitudes, behaviour or language is challenged.

Legislative Landscape GIRFEC: School need to ensure that all children and young people are: Nurtured Achieving Safe Healthy Included Active Respected Responsible Essentially, GIRFEC aims to ensure that all children and young people get the best start in life and are ready to succeed as they transition into adulthood.

Legislative Landscape Curriculum for Excellence: Duty of all schools “Children and young people should feel happy, safe, respected and included in the school environment and all staff should be proactive in promoting positive behaviour in the classroom, playground and the wider school community.” “acknowledge diversity and understand that it is everyone's responsibility to challenge discrimination.” Avoiding discrimination and promoting equality in the school environment underpins the Four Capacities.

Legislative Landscape Equality Act (2010) generally, there are three duties schools need to be mindful of: Eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct prohibited by the Act; Advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it Foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and people who do not share it

Legislative Landscape How Good is Our School 4 Quality Indicator 3.1: Ensuring Wellbeing, Equality and Inclusion “A clear focus on ensuring wellbeing entitlements and protected characteristics supports all learners to maximise their successes and achievements.” suggest schools: create an ‘equalities working group’ to self-evaluate any and all equalities related issues, including key issues impacting LGBT young people.

www.lgbtyouth.org.uk Classrooms and lessons Dealing with Homophobia and Homophobic Bullying in Scottish Schools: Toolkit for Teachers Developed around A Curriculum for Excellence Complimented by downloadable lesson plans for positively raising sexual orientation, gender identity and challenging homophobia. Result of extensive research on homophobia and homophobic bullying in Scottish Schools Aimed at embedding anti-homophobia and equality in school

www.lgbtyouth.org.uk Visually: Creating an inclusive learning environment: Visually:

www.lgbtyouth.org.uk Classrooms and lessons Dealing with Homophobia and Homophobic Bullying in Scottish Schools: Toolkit for Teachers Developed around A Curriculum for Excellence Complimented by downloadable lesson plans for positively raising sexual orientation, gender identity and challenging homophobia. Result of extensive research on homophobia and homophobic bullying in Scottish Schools Aimed at embedding anti-homophobia and equality in school

www.lgbtyouth.org.uk There’s loads!

www.lgbtyouth.org.uk In secondary schools, rather than books, you may prefer to use films like: Pride Tom Boy Laramie Project

www.lgbtyouth.org.uk Or short films like: SHH! Ryland’s Stand up Story

www.lgbtyouth.org.uk Next steps:

graeme.ross@lgbtyouth.org.uk @graememross www.lgbtyouth.org.uk