We’re All In This Together! “That’s So Gay” Introduction Explain we’re all in this together to stop homophobic language, behaviour and bullying touching on Different families We’re All In This Together! Version 2.0

Introduction Explain we’re all in this together to stop homophobic language, behaviour and bullying touching on Different families Version 2.0

Aims & Objectives Identify what homophobic language is. To understand how to challenge homophobic language. To understand the impact of homophobic bullying and who is affected. How can you respond?

What is Homophobic Language? Ask the audience what they think Homophobic Language is? Do they acknowledge that students using the term “that’s so gay” can be offensive to some people?

‘poof’, ‘lezzer’, ‘gay boy’, ‘batty boy’, ‘you’re so gay’ Homophobic language tends to be used without thinking & is often ignored by staff because either they feel it is difficult to know how to respond or they believe the language is used without any homophobic intent. Would staff ignore racist comments? These should be treated in the same way, a policy should give clear instruction on how to deal with homophobic language.

Justin Bieber was on the receiving end of the kind of hate-filled bullying that has made headlines recently --- during a laser tag match Friday night, he defended himself from an aggressive kid who referred to Bieber as a "faggot" ... sources close to the investigation tell TMZ

Why is it a problem?

98% of gay pupils hear ‘that’s so gay’ or you’re so gay’ at school n 97% of gay pupils hear derogatory phrases such as ‘dyke’ or ‘poof’ used in school 95% of secondary school teachers report hearing the phrase ‘you’re so gay’ or ‘that’s so gay’ in their schools 8 in 10 secondary school teachers report hearing other insulting remarks like ‘poof’, ‘dyke’, ‘queer’ and ‘faggot’ 98% of gay pupils hear ‘that’s so gay’ or you’re so gay’ at school Statistics are from Stonewall. If 98% of students are hearing Homophobic Language used in school and no action is taken by staff we are risking 98% of students growing up to believe that this language is acceptable. We must also remember that this could lead to students committing Hate Crime offenses which can lead to arrest.

Any culture that permits casual use of homophobic language makes it all the easier for young people to suffer homophobic name- calling and bullying.

Who is subjected to Homophobic language? Ask the audience who they think is subjected to homophobic language.

Teachers and those working with young people say that the pupils most affected by homophobic language are, in descending order: Young people who are thought to be lesbian, gay or bisexual Boys for behaving/acting ‘like girls’ Young people who are openly lesbian, gay or bisexual Boys who don’t play sports, Boys who are academic Girls for behaving/acting ‘like boys’/Play sports Girls whose parents/carers are gay Young people who have gay friends or family Transgender students Read the whole slide, can the staff associate any students to the above traits? KEEP STUDENTS NAMES TO THEMSELVES

Gay or Straight?? David Walliams, gay experiences as a young adult Jody Foster, gay but not totally ‘out’ Robbie Williams, straight but is quite ‘fem’ Ellen DeGeneras, lesbian publicly out Elton John, Gay, married, adopted a baby John Travolter, straight but stories coming out saying he is gay David Beckham, straight but wears skirts Tom Cruise, rumours, scientology ‘cures’ people of being gay

It is not exclusively gay young people who experience homophobic name- calling or harassment. Homophobic bullying can affect any young person at any time during their education, including primary and secondary schools, as well as further Education and sixth form colleges. Homophobic language is used amongst students in middle school not just upper schools.

When homophobic behaviour and language go unchallenged, a culture of homophobia is created and can impact on young people’s sense of belonging, self-esteem and attainment.

Intervening when young people use homophobic language, including the use of the word gay to mean inferior, creates a school culture where homophobia and homophobic bullying are not tolerated. Pupils will openly acknowledge that the use the term gay, they will say that they mean happy, we must encourage them to use the word happy instead

Responding to homophobic language Gay young people are three times more likely to feel like their school is accepting and supportive if it responds to homophobic incidents, including homophobic language 50% of teachers fail to respond to homophobic language when they hear it. Only 7% of teachers are reported to respond every time they hear homophobic language

In the same way that they challenge racist language, school staff should feel confident to respond to homophobic language whenever it happens.

How can I respond? Where a young persons actions constitute bullying, professionals should follow their departments anti-bullying policies and sanctions.

The following are examples of other professionals experiences. “I talked openly and honestly with the children about what “being gay” actually meant, and discussed why it was not nice or relevant to use the word gay as an insult”.

“A pupil called another pupil “gay” as a general insult “A pupil called another pupil “gay” as a general insult. This was immediately pointed out as being inappropriate behaviour, and when asked if they knew what “gay” meant, the pupil just said “stupid”. Another pupil pointed out that it meant two people of the same sex being in love, and that a family member of hers was gay and that she was happy about this, and that was the end of the discussion.”

Prevention Professionals should be given the confidence and support to challenge homophobic language when it occurs. However, there are a number of things you can do to cultivate a culture that discourages the use of homophobic language. Teachers play a big part in the “cure” of homophobic language in school and society by educating students that this language is unacceptable.

Include lesbian, gay and bisexual people in sessions. Outside speakers, Gay characters in books or plays Involve young people. Student council or Student groups for anonymous reporting Specific teaching on issues regarding homophobia. Discuss Homophobic language and bullying as you would Racism & other forms of discrimination Some things teachers can do. February is gay history month

Assemblies. Use these to address Homophobic language and behaviour. Also key opportunities in school calendar such as LGBT History month in February to include gay people in a positive way. Posters and displays. Display positive Lesbian and Gay and Bisexual messages, such as Stonewall’s ‘Some people are gay. Get over it!’ poster campaign. Stonewall will give some resources away for free.

Help and Advice Dorset Police Stonewall 999 in Emergencies Safe Schools & Communities Team 01202 222844 Equalities Team, call 101 or use the online reporting form at www.dorsetpolice.co.uk Stonewall www.stonewall.co.uk www.info@stonewall.org.uk/educationforall 0207 5931850 0800 0502020 Continued... Dorset police for advise support etc Stonewall offer resources for key stage 2 and up

Space Youth Project Spaceyouthproject.co.uk Bournemouth, Christchurch, Ferndown, Poole, Weymouth, Dorchester, Sherborne & Shaftesbury Over The Rainbow www.rainbowbournemouth.co.uk 01202 297386 Continued... Space have youth groups in the above areas OTR are a support/ sexual health organisation with the NHS

Metropolitan Community Church www.mccbournemouth.co.uk 01202 430888 Body Positive www.bodypositivedorset.org 01202 297386 Metropolitan Community Church www.mccbournemouth.co.uk 01202 430888 Body positive is an HIV/AIDS support charity MCC is a church which accepts any sex, race, orientation etc

Any Questions?