Teaching about LGBT families in schools ILGA Europe Annual Conference Zagreb, 24 October 2013 Civil rights education in the absence of rights: LGBT families in Italian schools Famiglie Arcobaleno, Italy

Associazione Genitori Omosessuali TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL C IVIL RIGHTS EDUCATION IN THE ABSENCE OF RIGHTS Famiglie Arcobaleno: born in 2005 Exchange and comparison between parents and would-be parents Promote a relationship between children of LGBT families

Associazione Genitori Omosessuali TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL C IVIL RIGHTS EDUCATION IN THE ABSENCE OF RIGHTS Numbers members 500 women 300 men 260 children

Associazione Genitori Omosessuali TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL C IVIL RIGHTS EDUCATION IN THE ABSENCE OF RIGHTS Famiglie Arcobaleno today Advocacy to obtain civil rights Promoting the visibility of same-sex parent families Exchange and comparison between parents and would-be parents Promote a relationship between children of LGBT families

Associazione Genitori Omosessuali TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL C IVIL RIGHTS EDUCATION IN THE ABSENCE OF RIGHTS Rights of LGBT people and couples No marriage No civil partnership No stepchild adoption No adoption

Associazione Genitori Omosessuali TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL C IVIL RIGHTS EDUCATION IN THE ABSENCE OF RIGHTS PARENTS CO-PARENT LEGAL PARENT RIGHTS DENIED

Associazione Genitori Omosessuali TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL C IVIL RIGHTS EDUCATION IN THE ABSENCE OF RIGHTS No rights or obligations for the co-parent The co-parent cannot take health care decisions take leaves from work for family reasons pick up children at school vote for or be elected in the school council claim contact order after separation from partner The co-parent has no obligation to sustain children economically assist children provide education

Associazione Genitori Omosessuali TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL C IVIL RIGHTS EDUCATION IN THE ABSENCE OF RIGHTS No rights for the children Children have no right to be supported financially, assisted, educated from the co- parent be granted contact with the co-parent, in case of separation or death of the legal parent kinship with the legal parent’s family Inherit from the co-parent and from her/his family

Associazione Genitori Omosessuali TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL C IVIL RIGHTS EDUCATION IN THE ABSENCE OF RIGHTS Equality law: necessary but not sufficient What can be truly done without laws?

Associazione Genitori Omosessuali TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL C IVIL RIGHTS EDUCATION IN THE ABSENCE OF RIGHTS How to survive without laws “ How to do miracles with the support of the private law ” cit. Speak to the heart: -everyday life -Institutions -School

Associazione Genitori Omosessuali TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL C IVIL RIGHTS EDUCATION IN THE ABSENCE OF RIGHTS Working in schools Starting from the school: FA was born also to help associates to deal with their kids beginning school Our children’s well-being is highly dependent from the acceptance from peers and from an inclusive educational environment To make our diversity visible, in a positive way

Associazione Genitori Omosessuali TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL C IVIL RIGHTS EDUCATION IN THE ABSENCE OF RIGHTS Issues Homosexuality, LGBT parenting, denied rights Prejudices and stereotypes on LGBT people and families The building of one’s sexual and gender identity Homophobia and bullying Education to differences. Gender and family roles Best practice at school

Associazione Genitori Omosessuali TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL C IVIL RIGHTS EDUCATION IN THE ABSENCE OF RIGHTS Training courses 1.Make prejudice emerge 2.Prejudice decostruction 3.Operative proposals Kindergarten/primary school Intermediate/high schools Universities introduce the new ‘non-traditional’ families; deconstruct prejudices and stereotypes against LGBT parenting; enhance skills to fight social exclusion and discrimination or homophobic bullying; ameliorate education practice to make them really inclusive of children living in non-traditional families; stimulate teachers to reflect upon best practice of welcoming and inclusion

Associazione Genitori Omosessuali TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL C IVIL RIGHTS EDUCATION IN THE ABSENCE OF RIGHTS Methods  thematic modules  focus group  team work, debate, discussion and practice on real school experiences  role playing, communication facilitation techniques  video screening  presentation and discussion of materials for teachers  materials lab, children’s textbooks and literature lab  Forum theatre, theatre shows

Associazione Genitori Omosessuali TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL C IVIL RIGHTS EDUCATION IN THE ABSENCE OF RIGHTS Some training courses in Italy torino roma ferrara bologna The courses followed three main lines: Introduce LGBT families Fight homophobia Fight stereotypes Support from local institutions, collaboration with other associations, collaboration with experts and university professors venezia

Associazione Genitori Omosessuali Training courses: Bologna  “Teacher, I have two mums. And I have two dads. Get to know LGBT parenting.”  Course targeted to pedagogists, educators, teachers and school personnel from kindergarten to secondary school.  Both aimed to introduce non- traditional LGBT families, to overcome prejudice and to stimulate inclusion  “Same-sex families in Italy – a reality of our times”.  Three days training. Course targeted to pedagogists, educators, personnel of game rooms and documentation centre for children  One day training. Course targeted to educators of kindergarten in the City of Bologna Focus: knowledge TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL C IVIL RIGHTS EDUCATION IN THE ABSENCE OF RIGHTS

Associazione Genitori Omosessuali Training courses: Bologna Focus: stereotypes  “How many in the house: getting diversity training”.  Equal opportunity and diversity training. Fight stereotypes and their identification in children’s literature  7 days training with kindergarten and primary school educators TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL C IVIL RIGHTS EDUCATION IN THE ABSENCE OF RIGHTS

Associazione Genitori Omosessuali Training courses: Ferrara  Courses against homophobia in two technical high schools since 4 years.  2013: “Educate to family diversity to fight homophobia”, course targeted to kindergarten and primary school teachers, social cooperatives and communities for minors educators. 150 people followed. Focus: homophobia TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL C IVIL RIGHTS EDUCATION IN THE ABSENCE OF RIGHTS

Associazione Genitori Omosessuali Training course: Torino Look how many parents! 2013: Course for 8 primary schools, conducted with the City Education Services, Famiglie Arcobaleno, Centro Studi Sereno Regis, Coordinamento Torino Pride LGBT  Introduce same-sex parent families to ease the arrival of children of lesbian mothers or gay fathers in primary school, to guarantee that they will be able to adapt to school life and to talk about their families without fearing prejudice. Focus: knowledge TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL C IVIL RIGHTS EDUCATION IN THE ABSENCE OF RIGHTS

Associazione Genitori Omosessuali Training course: Torino Stop Homophobia, Val di Susa Course targeted to kindergartens, conducted with Coordinamento Torino Pride LGBT Stop Homophobia, Nichelino Course targeted to primary school, conducted with Coordinamento Torino Pride LGBT, 3° edition Focus: homophobia TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL C IVIL RIGHTS EDUCATION IN THE ABSENCE OF RIGHTS

Associazione Genitori Omosessuali Training course: Roma Focus: knowledge Training events in kindergarten and schools where there are rainbow children 2011 Two days training course targeted to kindergarten and primary school teachers. 300 people followed. TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL C IVIL RIGHTS EDUCATION IN THE ABSENCE OF RIGHTS

Associazione Genitori Omosessuali  7 days training with kindergarten and primary school educators (60 people)  4 modules with video screening and role playing on real ‘embarassing’ cases  In collaboration with professors of the Masters in ‘Minors, rights and protection’ of the University of Ferrara Training course: Venezia Focus: knowledge TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL C IVIL RIGHTS EDUCATION IN THE ABSENCE OF RIGHTS Get to know LGBT families

Associazione Genitori Omosessuali TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL C IVIL RIGHTS EDUCATION IN THE ABSENCE OF RIGHTS Lessons learnt Testimonies create empathy but are not enough. To eradicate homophobic prejudice, interaction is fundamental (role playing, etc). It is important to involve and emotionally activate the participants The collaboration with university teachers, especially training experts, is very useful and provides the necessary scientific background

Associazione Genitori Omosessuali TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL C IVIL RIGHTS EDUCATION IN THE ABSENCE OF RIGHTS FA School Workgroup The group aims at creating an archive of all training experiences done in these years (conventions, training courses, events..) Prepare training and information materials for teachers regarding LGBT parenting Provide information and advices to members regarding their children entering the school (relation with teachers, essays to read..), provide support and help to develop strategies in critical moments

ILGA Europe Annual Conference Zagreb, 24 October 2013 Thank you for your attention!