Clondalkin Youth Service, for Stand Up 2014.
Welcome! We are delighted you’d like to make your school a welcoming and safe place for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender students. Stand Up Awareness Week tackles homophobic and transphobic bullying by encouraging friendship between LGBT young people and other young people. BeLonG To is really pleased by the growing numbers of teachers, principals, education partners and national youth services who have endorsed Stand Up! We know that real change takes time and we’re looking forward to working together over the long haul. Thank you for being a part of this journey. Ní neart go cur le chéile! You are welcome to use the Stand Up pack in the ways that are most suitable for your school or youth service. This booklet includes sections on: • • • • • •
What you can do for Stand Up week (in English and Irish) An LGBT Words Activity (in English and Irish) Discussion guides for the DVD Ideas from Transgender Students on how to support them A section on ‘Why Stand Up is Needed’ Details of BeLonG To’s National Network of LGBT youth services
We welcome any questions or feedback you may have on Stand Up!
Thank you,
Thank you!
Carol-Anne O’Brien, Director of Advocacy BeLonG To Youth Services,
We really appreciate all the teachers and principals who participated in the evaluation of Stand Up 2014! You shared lots of helpful ideas and feedback. We’re making changes to improve Stand Up and as you requested, we introduced Stand Up Training. We hope Stand Up Awareness Week is even better at supporting you to build a positive school climate that includes all students and prevents bullying.
info@belongto.org www.belongto.org P.S. The Stand Up! pack will also be available on our website in PDF format.
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“A black and white zebra crossing on roads is considered a safe place to cross. An LGBT Rainbow zebra crossing shows that this world is a safe place for people who may be LGBT. The Rainbow crossing shows how it is to walk in the shoes of an LGBT person and it’s letting them know we support them.” – Moville Community College, Donegal.
For Stand Up 2014, students in Gorey wove hundreds of Rainbow wristbands.
What You Can Do for Stand Up Week
Seas an Fód! Seachtain fheasachta
Great ideas for Stand Up - from teachers and youth workers
An-smaointe anseo le haghaidh Seas an Fód ó mhúinteoirí agus ó oibrithe don ógra.
1. Discuss what to do for Stand Up! Awareness Week at staff meetings. 2. Participate in Stand Up training (delivered by BeLonG To staff.) See www.belongto.org for details. 3. Put Stand Up! posters on prominent notice boards in your school – to help create a welcoming school environment. Keep the posters up till the summer. 4. Hold classes or an Assembly about Stand Up! Show some of our videos (DVD in Stand Up pack and also available online) See DVD Discussion Guide on next page. 5. Do the LGBT Words activity in your class. See Lesson Plan on next page. 6. Make a Rainbow zebra crossing in your main hallway (in the six colours of the LGBT Rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue & purple.) Thank you Moville for this idea see photo above. 7. Using wool in the 6 colours of the LGBT Rainbow Flag ask students to weave wristbands for Stand Up Week. Thank you Gorey - see photo below. 8. Hold a Chalk it Up! event: invite students to use coloured chalk to write and draw on the pavement for Stand Up! Week. They can write positive messages about LGBT young people and friendship. (Thank you to Break Out Donegal for this idea.) 9. Ask students to take a piece of paper and write down one idea they think would help create a positive school climate and prevent homophobic and transphobic bullying. Put a one-page summary on a flip chart in the main hallway during Stand Up! Week. 10. Send us photos of your Stand Up activities! info@belongto.org.
1. Pléigh Seachtain Feasachta LADT, ‘Seas an Fód’, ag cruinnithe foirne. 2. Cuireann BeLonGTo oiliúint le haghaidh Seas an Fód ar fáil. Bí páirteach linn ann. A thuilleadh eolais ó www.belongto.org 3. Taispeáin na póstaeir a bhaineann le ‘Seas an Fód’ ar chláir fógraí feiceálacha sa scoil! - Bíodh na póstaeir le feiceáil i rith na bliana. 4. Translate: Hold classes or an Assembly about Stand Up! Show some of our videos (DVD in Stand Up pack.) See DVD Discussion Guide on next page. (Apologies that our videos are only in English.) 5. Dein an tionscnamh LGBT Words id’ rangsa. Tá an scéim cheachta ar an gcéad leathanach eile 6. Dein trasrian síogach ar chuma an Bhogha Síne sa phríomh halla (úsáid na sé dathanna de chuid Bhogha Síne LGBT: dearg, oráiste, buí, uaine, gorm agus corcra.). Buíochas ó chroí le muintir Bhun an Phobail as ucht an smaoinimh seo – féach ar an bpictiúr thíos. 7. Ag baint úsáid as olann i sé dathanna de Bhratach Bogha Ceatha an LADT (dearg, oráiste, buí, glas, gorm agus corcra,) iarr ar na daltaí rostbhandaí a shníomh i rith seachtain ‘Seas an Fód’. (Buíochas do Loch Garman / Guaire). 8. Bíodh ócáid ‘Úsáid Cailce’ agaibh! Tabhair cuireadh do mhic léinn na scoile cailc dhaite a úsáid chun focail a scríobh nó pictiúir a tharraingt ar chosáin an bhaile i rith seachtain ‘Seas an Fód’! Tig leo teachtaireachtaí dearfacha faoi dhaoine óga LADT agus faoin chairdeas a scríobh. (Buíochas le grúpa óige LADT i nDún na nGall don smaoineamh seo). 9. Iarr ar gach dalta sa scoil cur síos a dhéanamh ar phíosa páipéir maidir le smaoineamh amháin a cheapann siad a bheadh fabhrach le timpeallacht scoile dearfach a chruthú agus a chuirfeadh cosc ar bhulaíocht homafóbach agus trasfóbach. Comhordaigh na freagraí. Cuir achoimre aon leathanaigh ar smeach-chairt i halla na scoile i rith seachtain ‘Seas an Fód’. 10. Seol pictiúirí de thionscnaimh Seachtain Seas an Fód chuig: info@belongto.org
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Learning Activity: LGBT Words
Tionscnamh Foghlama Focail LADT
Aim: To give young people definitions and respectful words for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Materials Needed: Pens, paper, list of LGBT Words Updated. Time needed: 20 - 30 minutes. What to do: • Introduce the topic by saying that, unfortunately, we all hear negative words about gay and transgender people – often we only hear the negative words and they’re used to put people down. • Break the young people into pairs, give them one or two of the LGBT words, and ask them to come up with what they think is a good definition. • After 15 minutes bring the groups back together and discuss what the participants think the words mean, comparing that with the definitions on the list below.
Aidhm: Chun sainmhínithe agus focail urramacha a thabhairt do dhaoine óga maidir leis na téarmaí seo: leispiach, aerach, déghnéasach agus daoine trasinscneacha. Ábhair Riachtanacha: Pinn, páipéar, liosta de na Focail LADT nuashonraithe. Am ag teastáil: 20-30 nóiméad. Cad atá le déanamh: • Chun tús a chur leis an ábhar cuir in iúl do na daltaí go gcloisim id go minic focail dhiúltacha maidir le daoine aeracha agus daoine trasinscneacha - agus úsáidtear na téarmaí seo chun daoine a náiriú. • Tugann an ghníomhaíocht oideachais seo deis chun na focail dhearfacha, maidir le daoine LADT, a fhoghlaim. • Roinn na daoine óga ina mbeirteanna, tabhair ceann amháin nó dhá cheann de na focail LADT do gach grúpa, agus iarr orthu teacht suas le sainmhíniú maith ar na téarmaí, dar leo. • Tar éis 15 nóiméad tabhair na grúpaí ar ais le chéile agus bíodh díospóireacht acu ar bhrí na bhfocal, ag déanamh comparáid leis na sainmhínithe liosta thíos.
LGBT Words – Updated* Allies: People who work for equality, especially if they are not a member of a group facing inequality.
Focail LADT nuashonraithe* Comhghuaillithe: Daoine atá ag obair don chomhionannas, ach go háirithe más rud é nach bhfuil siad ina bhall de ghrúpa atá os comhair na héagothroime. Déghnéasach: duine atá meallta chuig mná agus fir. Défhóibe: Claontacht nó idirdhealú i leith daoine déghnéasacha. Ag teacht amach: Tuiscint an duine féin agus an tuiscint sin a insint do dhaoine eile faoi a bheith leispiach, aerach, déghnéasach, nó trasinscneach. Cisinscne: Duine nach bhfuil trasinscneach. Aerach: Duine atá meallta go príomha chuig daoine den inscne chéanna. Anallód, baineadh úsáid as an téarma ‘homaighnéasach’. De ghnáth úsáidtear an téarma ‘aerach’ maidir le fir ach is fearr go leor le mná an téarma ‘leispiach’ a úsáid. Féiniúlacht Inscne: Tuiscint dhomhain inmheánach ag duine iad a bheith baineann, fireann, nó inscne éigin eile. Léiriú Inscne: An tslí ina nochtann daoine a n-inscne, trína n-éadaí, gruaig, guth, gothaíochtaí srl. Heitrighnéasach/Díreach: Duine atá meallta chuig daoine d’inscne eile. Bulaíocht homafóbach: Bulaíocht bunaithe ar réamhchlaonadh nó idirdhealú i leith daoine LADT. Bulaíocht i leith daoine atá LADT, nó a cheaptar a bheith LADT. Leispiach: Bean atá meallta chuig mná eile. LADT: Leispiach, Aerach, Déghnéasach, agus daoine atá trasinscneach. Claonadh Gnéasach: An claonadh a bhraitheann daoine i leith daoine eile ar inscne/í faoi leith. Trasinscneach, nó Tras: An scáth-théarma a úsáidtear dóibh siúd a bhfuil féiniúlacht inscne agus/nó léiriú inscne éagsúil acu ón ghnéas lenár rugadh iad, m.sh. trasinscneacha nó daoine trasghnéasacha. Trasdul: Próiseas ina dtosaíonn roinnt daoine trasinscneacha a bheith ag maireachtáil lena bhféiniúlacht inscne, seachas an gnéas a tugadh dóibh nuair a rugadh iad. Is minic a mbíonn na nithe seo a leanas ag dul le trasdul: athruithe sóisialta, fisiciúil nó dlítheanach, m.sh. ag teacht amach le teaghlach agus le cairde, athrú dealraimh agus/nó ainm, forainm, agus doiciméid dhlíthiúla, agus cóireáil leighis (m.sh. hormóin nó máinliacht.) Anallód thugtaí ‘athrú ghnéas’ ar an bpróiseas seo. Bulaíocht trasfóbach: Bulaíocht bunaithe ar réamhchlaonadh nó idirdhealú i leith daoine trasinscneacha. Bulaíocht i leith daoine atá tras, nó a cheaptar a bheith tras. *Bhí foilseacháin ó Líonra Trasinscne Comhionannais na hÉireann (TENI) cabhrach maidir leis an t-eolas is deireanaí, féach www.teni.ie
Bisexual: someone who is attracted to women and men. Biphobia: Prejudice or discrimination towards bisexual people. Coming out: Understanding oneself and telling others about being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. Cisgender: Someone who is not transgender. Gay: someone who is primarily attracted to people of the same gender. In the past, the term ‘homosexual’ was used. Gay usually refers to males as many women prefer to call themselves lesbian. Gender identity: A person’s deeply felt internal identity as female, male, or some other gender. Gender expression: How people show their gender, through their dress, hair, voice, mannerisms, etc. Heterosexual/straight: Someone who is attracted to people of another gender. Homophobic bullying: Bullying based on prejudice or discrimination towards LGBT people. Bullying of people who are LGBT, or who are seen to be LGBT. Lesbian: a woman who is primarily attracted to other women. LGBT: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans people. Sexual Orientation: the attraction people feel towards others based on their gender. Transgender, or Trans: An umbrella term for those whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from the sex they were given at birth. Transition: A process in which some trans people begin to live as the gender with which they identify, rather than the sex they were given at birth. Transition may include social, physical or legal changes, e.g. coming out to family & friends, changing one’s appearance and/or name, pronoun, and legal documents, and medical treatment (e.g. hormones or surgery.) In the past this process was called a ‘sex change’. Transphobic bullying: Bullying based on prejudice or discrimination towards transgender people. Bullying of people who are trans, or who are seen to be trans. *Publications from Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) were helpful in updating this list, www.teni.ie
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Stand Up videos: Discussion Guide Discussion Guide: Think: In advance of the screening, ask the students be prepared to write their own short reflection about each clip in their copybook.
Aim: Showing the Stand Up videos is a learning activity that can be used in Assembly or in a class. The aim is to to help students to develop their understanding of how cyber bullying and homophobic bullying are hurtful, help build their empathy towards students who experience bullying, and give them an opportunity to discuss different ways of supporting someone who is being bullied. (Apologies that BeLonG To videos are not available in Irish.)
Pair: Ask students to discuss in pairs their own reflections and the issues raised below. Share: Invite responses from each pair of students, and facilitate a class discussion on the issues raised.
Materials needed: TV & DVD player or Laptop & Projector DVD in Stand Up! 2015 Pack – all videos are produced by BeLonG To Youth Services:
Ideas for discussion questions (questions can also be linked to the relevant LGBT Word):
1. Stand Up for Your Friends (5 minutes) on bullying among girls.
1. In Stand Up for Your Friends, what was hurtful about the three girls’comments about the main character’s new haircut?
2. Stand Up for Jen (4 minutes) on cyber bullying and homophobic bullying.
2. Why didn’t the main character want to go to the Debutante Ball and what changed her mind?
3. Stand Up! Don’t Stand for Homophobic Bullying (4.24 minutes) on homophobic bullying among boys (this BeLonG To video received over 1.5 million views on YouTube.)
3. In Stand Up for Jen, what are the three incidents that upset Jen, and what is hurtful about those incidents?
Time needed: 30- 40 minutes
4. How do you think Jen felt after her friends supported her on Facebook?
What to do: Show one or all of the videos and use the following discussion guide.
5. In Stand Up! Don’t Stand for Homophobic Bullying, what are the incidents that upset the boys 6. Why do you think the other boys may have joined in the bullying in the laneway?
Students’ Feedback on Stand Up 2014
7. How do you think the two main boys felt when all the others stood up for them in the assembly room?
“It expresses the feeling of LGBT people and makes them feel the same as everyone else”
8. What makes it easier for students to support someone who is being bullied?
“It’s good to have a place where no one judges you.”
9. What are other ways that these three bullying incidents could be resolved?
“Don’t be afraid to be yourself - Love who you wanna love.”
Feedback from a teacher about Stand Up 2014. “Everyone has been very impressed by the Stand Up posters in my school and I’ve had a couple of girls approach me to say it really means a lot to them to see they are supported. It was wonderful to see that something so simple as putting up some posters can make them feel more comfortable in our school.”
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Why do we need Stand Up?
Miriam O’Callaghan and young people from BeLonG To at the launch of Stand Up 2014.
1. High Rates of Homophobic & Transphobic Bullying in Irish Schools
3. To Protect More Vulnerable Students The Department of Education’s Anti-Bullying Procedures (2013) says that certain students are more vulnerable to bullying. ‘These include lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) pupils and those perceived to be LGBT.’(4.3.) The Department requires that schools prevent bullying by encouraging positive and inclusive school climates, including participating in LGBT awareness events.
In 2013, the Department of Education’s Action Plan on Bullying stated that the ‘average percentage’ of children in Ireland who report being bullied is 27.3% (p.17). The Action Plan noted that ‘research by the Children’s Research Centre (Mayock et al) found that 50% of LGBT people had experienced bullying in schools.’ (p.23) 2. Homophobic Bullying Affects Mental Health
4. Recommended by Department of Education and Teachers across Ireland
The Department of Education Action Plan on Bullying quotes the finding of the Children’s Research Centre that there is a ‘clear correlation between homophobic and transphobic bullying and serious mental health difficulties among LGBT people to the extent that: • • •
The Department of Education’s Action Plan on Bullying recommended that the Department support Stand Up! The independent evaluation of Stand Up 2014 said that teachers found Stand Up to be an excellent national campaign that ‘builds awareness of homophobic and transphobic bullying among students and staff.’ The evaluation recommended that BeLonG To offer more training to support teachers in preparing for Stand Up. We’re delighted that in March-April 2015, we are offering 11 teacher training workshops in 10 Education Centres, and five workshops for youthworkers in four different locations; for details see www.belongto.org.
27% had self-harmed. Over 50% of under-25s had seriously thought of ending their lives. Almost 20% of under-25s had attempted suicide (p.35.)’
Ideas for Creating Inclusive Schools for Transgender Students Trans young people are in schools across Ireland. Thank you to the members of IndividualiTy (BeLonG To’s trans youth group) for helping us update these ideas for how schools can be safe and inclusive.
5. It’s very important to respect our confidentiality about being Trans. 6. If we ask for this, please support us in talking to our parents.
1. We feel more respected and included if staff use the name/pronoun we choose.
7. We really benefit when staff get training on Trans and LGB issues, especially school counsellors.
2. Please be flexible about which uniforms we can wear (skirts/trousers) and hair length, jewellery, etc.
8. Please teach the Trans section of the SPHE resource, Growing Up LGBT.
3. Ask us what we need for bathrooms/change rooms – it’s great to have a choice between male, female and gender neutral options.
9. Participate in Stand Up! 10. Please fully implement your school’s Anti-Bullying Policy. LGB students would very much agree with this point.)
4. Please be flexible about gender inclusion in school sports. 6
Miriam O’Callaghan and young people from BeLonG To, at the launch of Stand Up 2014.
Courtesy of Nenagh College, Co. Tipperary for Stand Up 2014, whose students made their own version of the Stand Up poster
BeLonG To National Network of LGBT Youth Services 2015
Kildare: KLGBT Youth Group (14-18) klgbt@kys.ie 045 897 893.
Carlow: MUI (13 - 18) LGBT youth group annemarie@carlowys.ie 085 272 2379.
Kilkenny: Open Door youth group (12 – 18) pbookle@ossoryyouth.com 056 776 1200.
Cork: Up Cork (15-23) mixed LGBT young people’s group youth@gayprojectcork.com 021 430 0430/086 044 3745.
Limerick: MYLGBT Young Adults Group (13-25) youth@goshh.ie 061 310 101/087 444 7368
Donegal: Breakout LGBT Youth Group, Letterkenny & Ballybofey(16-23) lgbt@donegalyouthservice.ie 086 124 7968 Out in the Yard LGBT Youth Group, Falcarragh (15 -23) lgbtfalcarragh@gmail.com
Louth: AIM LGBT Youth Group (14-17) AIM Young Adults Group (18-25) youth@outcomers.org 086 162 5030. Sligo: Re-start of group is imminent. Please see www.belongto.org for further information.
Dublin – City Centre: BeLonG To Sunday (14-23), The LadyBirds LBT Women’s Group (14-23), IndividualiTy Trans Youth Group (14-23), Youth Drop-In (14-23) & Over 18’s Group www.belongto.org info@belongto.org 01 670 6223. Dublin - Tallaght: LGBT Youth Group (15-18) bronagh.connolly@foroige.ie 01 451 6322.
Tipperary: Re-start of group is planned later in 2015. Please see www.belongto.org for further information. Waterford: Chill-Out LGBT Youth Group 051 309364. Wexford: LGBT Youth Group, Gorey & Wexford (16-25) david.clark@fdys.ie 053 912 3262.
Galway: shOUT LGBT Youth Group (14-23) lgbtyouthgalway@gmail.com 087 773 8529.
Wicklow: LGBT Arklow (14 - 18) info@ewys.ie 0402 39646. Bray LGBT Youth (14 - 18) braylgbtyouth@gmail.com 01 205 0502 or 085 145 8782.
Kerry: LGBT Youth Group,Tralee (15-18) kathleenhiggins@kdys.ie 066 712 1674.
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