Stop Homophobic Bullying A lesson from BLAH LGBT+ Youth and Hate Free Norfolk A lesson from BLAH LGBT+ Youth and Hate Free Norfolk

/ This lesson is based on a booklet that young LGBT people in Norfolk created

Same Love / We’re going to start by watching a music video / Same Love is by hiphop artists Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, featuring Mary Lambert / It was created to support the campaign for Equal Marriage in the USA / We’re going to start by watching a music video / Same Love is by hiphop artists Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, featuring Mary Lambert / It was created to support the campaign for Equal Marriage in the USA

Same Love / In the UK same-sex couples can get married

Same Love / Click here to watch the video on Youtube Click here to watch the video on Youtube / Click here to watch the video on Youtube Click here to watch the video on Youtube

A helping hand / We’re going to hear some horrible stories about bullying today. We want to make sure you can get support if you are bullied / On a piece of paper, draw around your hand / On each finger and thumb, write the name of a person you would talk to if you were being bullied - 5 people. / We’re going to hear some horrible stories about bullying today. We want to make sure you can get support if you are bullied / On a piece of paper, draw around your hand / On each finger and thumb, write the name of a person you would talk to if you were being bullied - 5 people.

What does LGBT mean? / L = Lesbian: girls who love girls / G = Gay: boys who love boys and girls who love girls / B = Bisexual: you can love boys and girls / L = Lesbian: girls who love girls / G = Gay: boys who love boys and girls who love girls / B = Bisexual: you can love boys and girls

What does LGBT mean? / T = Transgender - when your gender identity (who you are on the inside) doesn’t match your biological sex (what you look like on the outside) e.g. you are born a boy but on the inside you are a girl / Transgender is different to sexuality (it’s not about who you fall in love with) / T = Transgender - when your gender identity (who you are on the inside) doesn’t match your biological sex (what you look like on the outside) e.g. you are born a boy but on the inside you are a girl / Transgender is different to sexuality (it’s not about who you fall in love with)

Let’s meet a transgender child / Click here to watch Alex’s film on YouTube Click here to watch Alex’s film on YouTube / Click here to watch Alex’s film on YouTube Click here to watch Alex’s film on YouTube

Let’s get things straight / Most people are heterosexual, also known as “straight” and are attracted to people of the opposite sex.

Do the maths! / Somewhere between 1-10% of people are born lesbian, gay or bisexual or transgender / If 10% of the students in your school will come out as LGBT at some point in their lives, how many students is that? / Somewhere between 1-10% of people are born lesbian, gay or bisexual or transgender / If 10% of the students in your school will come out as LGBT at some point in their lives, how many students is that?

Homophobia / Homophobia is fear, hatred and discrimination of gay people / Homophobic bullying is bullying people because they are gay or you think they’re gay / Bullying can be verbal, physical, psychological / It can be in person or via mobile phones and the internet (cyber-bullying) / Homophobia is fear, hatred and discrimination of gay people / Homophobic bullying is bullying people because they are gay or you think they’re gay / Bullying can be verbal, physical, psychological / It can be in person or via mobile phones and the internet (cyber-bullying)

Transphobia / Fear, discrimination and prejudice of transgender people and people who challenge gender-conforming norms / Do you think boys and girls have to look, dress and act in certain ways? / Fear, discrimination and prejudice of transgender people and people who challenge gender-conforming norms / Do you think boys and girls have to look, dress and act in certain ways?

Homophobic Bullying / The national charity Stonewall says more than 55% of young LGB people experience homophobic bullying in schools / We know that lots of young people at the BLAH LGBT Youth Group have been bullied. / The national charity Stonewall says more than 55% of young LGB people experience homophobic bullying in schools / We know that lots of young people at the BLAH LGBT Youth Group have been bullied.

It can happen to anyone / Anyone can suffer homophobic and transphobic bullying. You don’t have to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. / Bullies can pick on anyone who seems a bit different or vulnerable / Anyone can suffer homophobic and transphobic bullying. You don’t have to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. / Bullies can pick on anyone who seems a bit different or vulnerable

Scared to be who you are / This means a lot of young people are frightened to be themselves / It means a lot of young LGBT people are scared of “coming out” - telling people about who they are / This means a lot of young people are frightened to be themselves / It means a lot of young LGBT people are scared of “coming out” - telling people about who they are

The impact of bullying / It can have a big impact on your confidence and self-esteem / It can affect your schoolwork / It can lead to self-harming, depression and suicide / It can have a big impact on your confidence and self-esteem / It can affect your schoolwork / It can lead to self-harming, depression and suicide

The impact of bullying / Nearly 23% of young LGB people attempt suicide compared to 7% of young people in general / 48% of young transgender people attempt suicide / Nearly 23% of young LGB people attempt suicide compared to 7% of young people in general / 48% of young transgender people attempt suicide

Ellen Page / Ellen Page is a successful Hollywood actress / She starred in Juno and X-Men / If that’s how she felt before coming out how do you think it feels for a young person in Norfolk? / Ellen Page is a successful Hollywood actress / She starred in Juno and X-Men / If that’s how she felt before coming out how do you think it feels for a young person in Norfolk?

Dominic Crouch / Dominic was 15 when he committed suicide in 2010 / Dominic had kissed a boy during a game of spin the bottle / The kiss was filmed on a mobile phone and circulated around the school / Dominic was 15 when he committed suicide in 2010 / Dominic had kissed a boy during a game of spin the bottle / The kiss was filmed on a mobile phone and circulated around the school

Dominic’s family / Dominic’s dad became a campaigner against homophobic bullying / Sadly he committed suicide too / Homophobic bullying doesn’t just affect the person, it also affects family and friends / Dominic’s dad became a campaigner against homophobic bullying / Sadly he committed suicide too / Homophobic bullying doesn’t just affect the person, it also affects family and friends

What would you do? / Imagine that you are Dominic’s friends / He tells you how awful he feels / How could you help Dominic? / Imagine that you are Dominic’s friends / He tells you how awful he feels / How could you help Dominic?

Imagine what it’s like to be bullied / Read the stories on page of the Stop Homophobic Bullying booklet / These were written by young people in Norfolk / Read the stories on page of the Stop Homophobic Bullying booklet / These were written by young people in Norfolk

Imagine what it’s like to be bullied / What words did the bullies use? / What physical things did the bullies do? / How did the bullying make the young people feel? / What helped the young people? / What words did the bullies use? / What physical things did the bullies do? / How did the bullying make the young people feel? / What helped the young people?

Take a Walk in Our Shoes / In 2013 the BLAH Youth Group worked with Fixers Charity to create posters to get young people to “Take a walk in our shoes” / Here are some examples… / In 2013 the BLAH Youth Group worked with Fixers Charity to create posters to get young people to “Take a walk in our shoes” / Here are some examples…

Take a walk in our shoes

/ How did it feel to be called names because of your sexuality? / Is it OK for young people to worry about being beaten up because they are gay? / How did it feel to be called names because of your sexuality? / Is it OK for young people to worry about being beaten up because they are gay?

That’s so gay! / Stonewall report that 99% of LGB young people hear phrases such as ‘that’s so gay’ or ‘you’re so gay’ in school / 84% of LGB young people feel distressed when they hear the word ‘gay’ used as an insult / Stonewall report that 99% of LGB young people hear phrases such as ‘that’s so gay’ or ‘you’re so gay’ in school / 84% of LGB young people feel distressed when they hear the word ‘gay’ used as an insult

Know Your Pride / We’re going to watch a film about the history of the word gay / It was made by David Mills who used to come to BLAH Youth Group / He worked with the charity Fixers / He was on Anglia News / We’re going to watch a film about the history of the word gay / It was made by David Mills who used to come to BLAH Youth Group / He worked with the charity Fixers / He was on Anglia News

Know Your Pride / Click here to watch the film on YouTube Click here to watch the film on YouTube / Click here to watch the film on YouTube Click here to watch the film on YouTube

Screen Test / What was the original use of the word gay? / When was gay first used to suggest homosexual in the movies? / Why was gay adopted as a word by homosexuals? / What is the rainbow flag a symbol of? / When did gay start to be used as an insult? / What was the original use of the word gay? / When was gay first used to suggest homosexual in the movies? / Why was gay adopted as a word by homosexuals? / What is the rainbow flag a symbol of? / When did gay start to be used as an insult?

Mind your language / Using the word gay as an insult upsets LGBT people and their family and friends / It can lead to a culture of bullying / It can stop young people feeling safe / Don’t be an accidental bully - mind your language / Using the word gay as an insult upsets LGBT people and their family and friends / It can lead to a culture of bullying / It can stop young people feeling safe / Don’t be an accidental bully - mind your language

Caption competition

Bullying - Report It / If you are being bullied or you see someone being bullied at school - report it to your teachers. It will be taken seriously. / Homophobic and transphobic bullying are examples of a Hate Crime or Hate Incident. / If you are being bullied or you see someone being bullied at school - report it to your teachers. It will be taken seriously. / Homophobic and transphobic bullying are examples of a Hate Crime or Hate Incident.

Hate Crimes and Incidents / A Hate Crime is a crime committed against someone because of their identity  A Hate Incident is an incident committed against someone because of their identity - it is a serious offence but it’s not necessarily a crime / A Hate Crime is a crime committed against someone because of their identity  A Hate Incident is an incident committed against someone because of their identity - it is a serious offence but it’s not necessarily a crime

Hate Crime - Report it / Call the police or ask to talk to your school PCSO / You can report hate crimes and incidents on line at / Call the police or ask to talk to your school PCSO / You can report hate crimes and incidents on line at

BLAH LGBT+ Youth / For young LGBT people aged and those questioning sexuality or gender identity / 1:1 support via meetings, and telephone / Youth Groups across Norfolk and Waveney / Travel bursaries available / Here’s what some young people have said about coming to BLAH / For young LGBT people aged and those questioning sexuality or gender identity / 1:1 support via meetings, and telephone / Youth Groups across Norfolk and Waveney / Travel bursaries available / Here’s what some young people have said about coming to BLAH

“ Meeting other LGBT young people has helped build my confidence and is helping me accept myself for who I am”

/ “The more gay people I meet, the more I realise that it’s ok to be gay”

/ “I am happier than I have ever been. I am proud to be me.”

Whatever your gender or sexuality….. Stop Homophobic Bullying