Tackling Homophobia where it counts: in the Classroom

[jl_merrow]

Today, May 17^th, is International Day Against Homophobia.

Two thirds of LGBT kids and teens in Britain suffer homophobic bullying in school. They are three times as likely to commit suicide as a result.

Straight kids suffer too—either from fearing to be open about LGBT friends and relatives, or from pressure to conform to gender stereotypes.

Kids pick up on prejudiced attitudes from all sorts of places—and all too often, they lack a positive LGBT role model in their lives.

I’d like to share with you some of the work being done to change this by Diversity Role Models. DRM is a registered charity that was set up following the suicide of a fifteen-year-old boy who was bullied because he was perceived to be gay.

The charity sends speakers – “Role Models”- into schools to run workshops on the subject of homophobia. The Role Models speak frankly about their own lives, answer questions, promote discussion—and show the kids that LGBT people really aren’t any different from anyone else.

The results they achieve are truly outstanding.

Meeting role models who explain their experiences and life stories helped many of our students understand the bullying and difficulties that many LGBT people face as they make the journey to adulthood.  This process of ‘usualising’ being LGBT allowed many students to question previously held beliefs and develop their confidence to reject and challenge the casual use of ‘gay’ as a term of abuse...

Since the workshops, many of the students who attended them have talked to staff about diversity and difference – and are clearly opposed to the discrimination against LGBT people that still exists in British society – Assistant Head, South London Secondary School

The role models were a complete revelation ranging from an actor in a well known TV soap to a senior vice- president of a major bank. They talked about their experiences and answered questions with ease.

The students got so much from it but gave a lot to the session too. They were open about their feelings and thoughts on a range of issues and talked about the experiences in their lives and families - Assistant Head, North London Secondary School

You can see what the students think about the workshops here – sample comments:

“before I thought gay people and lesbien (sic) people are disgusting now I don’t, I think there the same people as others”

“before I was a little scared and uncomfortable but now I feel better”

The results speak for themselves:

In schools where homophobic bullying is tackled, LGBT students are 60% less likely to be bullied.

Diversity Role Models, a charity launched last year to tackle homophobic bullying in schools, announced today 94.5 percent of students who took part in a workshop with a positive role model said they would treat LGBT people better as a result.

Similarly, 91 percent of students filling in the feedback questionnaires after a workshop said they would try to use the word ‘gay’ in a pejorative way less often in future – Pink News, 2^nd May 2012.

This work needs funding. If you, or perhaps the organisation you work for, can afford to commit to a monthly donation to Diversity Role Models, it will be invaluable in helping them increase the number of workshops they can run. Any gift will be very gratefully received, and will make a difference in young people’s lives.

 

 Every penny helps us put role models in front of young people. This can save lives 

 

If you are able to help, please donate at:http://www.charitygiving.co.uk/donate/diversityrolemodel

Registered charity number: 1142458

***

I’m offering a giveaway for the Hop Against Homophobia  – this is separate from the Hard Tail blog tour giveaway.  The prize: winner’s choice of any 2 e-books from my backlist (see my website for a list). All you need to do to enter is send me an email on jl(dot)merrow(at)gmail(dot)com with DIVERSITY ROLE MODELS in the subject line.  I’ll make the draw on 21st May, at around noon, GMT.

Comments

[charliecochrane.livejournal.com]

Love it. Stonewall produce some good anti-bullying resources, too.

[jl_merrow]

Wow, you were quick! I was still fixing the formatting issues! ;)
Diversity Role Models have links to Stonewall, and the Albert Kennedy Trust. They do amazing work.

[maderr.livejournal.com]

Sounds like an amazing group. Will definitely contribute.

[jl_merrow]

Thanks so much! The work they do is just so valuable.

[elin-gregory.livejournal.com]

Oh, what a good idea! I love the term "usualising". Nice post :)

[jl_merrow]

Thank you! Yes, I think "usualising" is a great term, because it really encapsulates what Diversity Role Models are doing - showing kids there's nothing UNusual about gay people. :)

[helenajust.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the good news that "something can be done" and IS being done, and also for providing the means to do something oneself! Raising awareness and showing solidarity is of course important, but it is also good to be able to help in a practical manner.

[jl_merrow]

Yes, there's a danger we end up preaching to the converted. A donation to Diversity Role Models will help them preach to the unconverted. :)

[cdn-tam.livejournal.com]

Wow, that is a really great idea. As adults we can talk at kids all we want, but to come face-to-face with the it is so much more powerful. Attitudes of what a gay person is or looks like can be so skewed in young people (and old for that matter), but seeing someone "normal" and "like them" seems to really have an effect. I think it's a super project, wish there were more like it.

[jl_merrow]

Absolutely - there's no substitute for kids meeting a gay person, being able to talk to them and seeing for themselves that gay people are just people. :)

[whitestar.livejournal.com]

I was just thinking that schools should have something like this. Good to know the UK has. I wonder if the US does it and what our results are?

[jl_merrow]

I may be way off base here, but I imagine there'd be more opposition to this sort of thing in some US areas. It'd be fantastic if they do have a similar group, though.

[kerry sullivan (from livejournal.com)]

Thank you for being part of this HOP and helping shine a light on this important issue.

musings-of-a-bookworm@hotmail.co.uk

[jl_merrow]

And thank you for reading! :)

[crissy morris (from livejournal.com)]

What a great idea!!

morris.crissy@gmail.com

[jl_merrow]

Isn't it just? :)

[stormymonday211.livejournal.com]

This is really a great organization! Thank you so much for bringing it to my awareness since I hadn't heard of such a campaign before. Wonder if there is something comparable here in Germany? It's really a good way to reduce prejudice against LGBTQ people by showing how "usual" they are! Wish there were more campaigns like this! Thank you for posting and take care!

StormyMonday@gmx.net

[jl_merrow]

It'd be great if there was something like this in Germany - the role models really do a fantastic job.
Thanks for commenting!:D

[fullmoon-dreams.livejournal.com]

Just stopping by to offer support and thanks to other partipants in the blog hop. Nice to see another Brit taking part as well.

[jl_merrow]

Thank you! :D

Education Saves

[tabatha hansen (from livejournal.com)]

I absolutely agree with you that education is the key to understanding! I am a life long learner (currently in my doctorate!) and I find that the more education the more open minded. People need to see past the stereotypes and not judge on first impressions, they need to see the people underneath and the most intelligent people see people's souls.

Tabatha Hansen
mmparanormalromance@gmail.com
www.mmparanormalromance.wordpress.com

Re: Education Saves

[jl_merrow]

Oh, absolutely. I think ignorance is at the root of most people's prejudice. Thanks for commenting! :D