1. NB: This Powerpoint is written in Century Gothic font, to be as accessible as possible for dyslexic readers.
On this slide, you could ask the assembly if they know what is celebrated in February.
They may come up with things like: Valentine’s Day, Shove Tuesday (Pancake Day) and even half term!
They may know about Candlemas – more information can be found here:
The cabbages are on there as February was known to the Saxons as ‘sprout-kale’ as the cabbages and kale sprouted in this month!

2. LGBT History Month February is also:
Across the UK, since 2005, events have taken place in schools, colleges, universities, businesses and in communities to remember, observe and celebrate LGBT History.
You could ask at this point if anyone knows what LGBT stands for, or you could just tell them, using these definitions:
Lesbian – a woman who falls in love with another woman
Gay – a man who falls in love with another man
Bisexual – a person who can fall in love with either a man or a woman
Transgender – Some people do not feel their bodies fit their gender i.e. boys sometimes feel they should have been born girls and girls feel they should have been born as boys. Some times they feel like neither and sometimes they feel like both.
People who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender are part of a community of people known as the LGBT community.”

3. LGBT community There are LGBT people in every community in Scotland.
They can be in any school, any family and any group.
The official statistics on the number of LGBT people in Scotland vary widely. Discrepancies occur because a number of LGBT people do not feel comfortable disclosing information about their personal identities and family lives. There may be many reasons for this, including the fear that this information may be used to label LGBT individuals as bad.
We can say, with certainty, that there are LGBT people in every area of Scotland.

4. LGBT History Month Every February, Scotland holds LGBT History Month.
This is like Black History Month in November.
A useful link if your school engages with Black History Month – just remove it if you do not, but it is important to share the following information which you could do on the previous slide:
You could ask at this point if anyone knows what anything about LGBT History Month, or if you celebrated it last year, what they remember.
To help facilitate the discussion, here’s a handy description:
‘Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans History Month celebrates the lives and achievements of the LGBT community. LGBT HM is celebrated in February in the UK but our work to challenge homophobia, biphobia and transphobia continues throughout the year.
‘It is an opportunity to uncover the hidden histories of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and a create space for dialogue debate and learning - highlighting discrimination and celebrating diversity. Every year events take place across Scotland run by community groups, businesses and local authorities including schools, universities and colleges.’

5. This year, the theme of LGBT History Month in Scotland is Heritage!
This is similar to the theme for Scotland 2017: Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology.
LGBT History is often overlooked but is rich and varied.
Copies of this poster can be downloaded from the LGBT Youth Scotland website and from the Scottish LGBT History Month website here:
Schools can put them up in corridors, classrooms and communal areas.
There are some pre-printed posters available from LGBT Youth Scotland offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dumfries. Please contact these offices directly if you’d like some sent to you and to arrange methods of paying postage.

6. LGBT History Month
There are many important dates, people and places in Scottish LGBT history. Here are just a few of them.
LGBT Youth Scotland runs youth groups all over Scotland, information can be found here:
They also offer an online digital youth work service. This allows young people from all over Scotland the opportunity to talk anonymously with youth workers about anything regarding sexual orientation or gender identity. The information about this can be found here:
Edwin Morgan was a Scottish poet and translator who was associated with the Scottish Renaissance. He is widely recognised as one of the foremost Scottish poets of the 20th century. In 1999, Morgan was made the first Glasgow Poet Laureate. In 2004, he was named as the first Scottish national poet: The Scots Makar.

7. Today, Pride marches happen in several areas across Scotland with Dundee planning their first Pride march in Pride marches are celebrations of LGBT culture and identity and enable LGBT people to show pride in the journey they have taken to be who they are. Historically, they stem from the Stonewall Riots in New York in 1969 and the march which was held to commemorate those riots the year after.
Jackie Kay is the Scots Makar and a lesbian. She is an advocate for LGBT rights in Scotland.
Section 28, officially Clause 2(a) in Scotland, was a law which prevented ‘local authorities from promoting homosexual relationships as healthy alternatives to heterosexual ones’. This vaguely worded law was interpreted by many schools to mean that they couldn’t discuss anything LGBT. It created a vacuum of information for all students, but particularly LGBT students who were left isolated, confused and unwelcome.

8. LGBT History Month
There are many important dates, people and place in Scottish LGBT history. Here are a few of them.
IN 2004 the UK government passed the Civil Partnership act which allowed same-sex couples to register their relationships and gain the majority of benefits of a marriage.
Campaigners maintained that this ‘separate but equal’ differentiation was unnecessary and unhelpful and pushed for full access to marriage. This was passed in 2014 after significant and sustained opposition.

9. Pride One of the events on the poster is Pride
Pride One of the events on the poster is Pride. Let’s learn a little more about Pride from Pop’n’Olly:
There are more clips, videos and stories at Pop’n’Olly.com , including a lovely book called Prince Henry which you can buy at:
Prince Henry is also a YouTube story here:

10. What can we do?
To show that our school supports LGBT people, on Friday 24th - the last school day of LGBT History Month – we’re going to be celebrating Purple Friday!
There’s a second PowerPoint you can use on Purple Friday which explains exactly why we have it, though the idea is: To mark the last Friday of LGBT History Month we're asking Scottish schools to allow staff and pupils who stand up against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia to wear something purple to school. If this isn’t possible, then by wearing a purple ribbon or badge or doing something purple related as a school.
This will send a visual message of acceptance and LGBT equality, allowing both students and staff to get involved in a meaningful action to tackle prejudice and discrimination.
We know that when young people are directly involved in school initiatives it can make a real impact, so involve pupil councils or senior pupils in leading this initiative.
Schools can also ask all pupils who take part in Purple Friday to donate 50p or a £1 towards the campaign, hold a bake sale selling purple cupcakes or selling purple ribbons.
Any school that donates over £500 to support LGBT Youth Scotland's work in schools will be eligible for free teacher training from LGBT Youth Scotland, and will be signed up for the LGBT Schools Charter Mark

11. LGBT History Month www.lgbtyouth.org.uk
We’d like to think that everyone in our school is safe and happy to be here.
Also, we hope that you all know that if you have any problems or issues, we’re here to help.
If you want further information you can visit: