1. PLP: Wednesday 2nd February 2011
Dame Alice Owen’s School
Tackling Homophobia
PLP: Wednesday 2nd February 2011

2. Homophobia in Britain’s Schools
98% of gay students and 95% of school staff hear phrases like ‘You’re so gay’ every day at school.
65% of young LGB students admit to being bullied at school.
97% of students hear abusive language, like ‘dyke’ and ‘queer’ (and over 70% say they hear such terms often).
Less than 23% of young gay people say they have been taught at school that homophobia is wrong.
More than 50% of lesbian and gay students feel they cannot be themselves at school.
35% of gay students do not feel safe or accepted at school.
30% of gay and lesbian teenagers say that adults at school have been responsible for bullying them verbally or physically.
In a piece of research, Stonewall found that only 46 minutes of TV programming showed a positive image of gays out of 126 hours.

3. Two Case Studies #1 A confident and popular Year 9 girl comes out as
a lesbian to her peers.
No discernable bullying
takes place and she
becomes a positive role
model in Year Group. #2
A Year 11 boy who has
few friends, is bullied and
struggles socially confides
in his form teacher that he’s
gay and wants to come out
to his Year Group, because
he’s fed up of living a lie.

4. Specific Issue: Struggling with Sexuality
Useful website:
Typical questions:
Am I gay?
Is it just a phase?
Was I born gay?

5. Specific Issue: Coming Out
Useful website:
Typical questions:
How should I come out?
How will my parents react?
What if I get bullied?

6. Single Equality Duty All state schools have a duty to tackle
discrimination, bullying and harassment and
promote equality for all members of the
school community irrespective of an
individual’s sexual orientation.
Discussing / talking about alternatives to
heterosexuality is perfectly legal in the
context of the above paragraph.

7. Advice for Tackling Homophobia
Students struggling with
their sexuality
Assume nothing
Listen actively
Direct to support
Record
Monitor
Keep communicating
Straight students
ANTI-BULLYING POLICY

8. Preventing Homophobia
Curriculum (examples)
Study of an author or poet
Drama and playwrights
Study major relevant historical events
Dispelling myths around HIV and AIDS and STIs, and paedophilia
Film: (e.g. Milk)
Looking at positive contributions of gay figures in culture and society at large
Study sexuality from different religious perspectives, including those positive towards gays
Pastoral (examples)
Assemblies
Form time discussions
Quizzes
Displays
Guest speakers
Role plays
News items
Charity fundraising or volunteering (THT)
PSHE – sexuality and relationships
Duty of Care

9. Further Support for Teachers
TeacherNet
ehaviour/tacklingbullying/homophobicbullyin
g/adviceforteachersandschoolstaff/
Stonewall
tion_resources/default.asp