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EXCEEDING

EXPECTATIONS 17TH MAY 2007 ENDING HOMOPHOBIA THROUGH EDUCATION

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INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA

IN A WORLD WHERE 77 COUNTRIES PUNISH WOMEN, MEN AND CHILDREN BECAUSE OF THEIR SEXUALITY, INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA (IDAHO) PROVIDES A PLATFORM FOR EVERYONE TO MAKE A POWERFUL STATEMENT TO DEMAND IMPROVEMENTS FOR PEOPLES’ QUALITY OF LIFE OVERSEAS AND IN THE UK. What is International Day Against Homophobia ?

IDAHO was founded on 17th May 2005, a date specifically chosen, as it was on that day in 1990 that the World Health Organisation finally removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. IDAHO has been officially recognised by the European Parliament and has the support of many gay activists and organisations throughout the world.

1) To provoke action into defeating homophobia.

2) To co-ordinate efforts to increase awareness of activities and homophobic issues.

3) To have IDAHO recognised on the UK national calendar and The United Nations International Calendar.

What can I do on May 17th?

The day can be used to raise awareness of homophobic issues that are negatively impacting on young people’s lives and to also showcase success stories where a positive change has been achieved.

● Join a union if you are facing homophobia at work. ● Be interviewed for any newsletters that are circulated. ● Lobby your local elected representatives and regional government. ● Raise awareness of homophobic actions. ● Highlight campaigns which focus on combatting homophobia. ● Do you know how suicide affects young LGBT people?

Questions that may be asked ● Do you know how Mental Health You can effectively do anything for IDAHO issues affect LGBT people? as long as it supports International Day ● Do you know how LGBT people are Against Homophobia. You may have a supported within UK society? project in mind that could be scheduled to ● Does your employer have supportive tie in with IDAHO on May 17th. employment practices and The four main political parties in England are recruitment techniques? also supporting the initiative, which is aimed For example many people choose to do ● Come to our Special Showcase event at encouraging individuals and the following: on May 17th at Manchester Town organisations to officially mark IDAHO in ● Fly Rainbow Flags.

Hall. See back page for more their calendars. ● Put Up Posters. information. ● Raise awareness of the difficulties and IDAHO has three main objectives, and these Continued on page 2 benefits of ‘coming out.’ are: -

JUDY MOORHOUSE - PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL UNION OF TEACHERS homophobia has an impact on staff who are LGBT. Now we have the very welcome 2003 legislation making it unlawful for employers to discriminate against teachers because of their sexual orientation.

Coming out is a personal decision and neither head teachers nor governors should try to dissuade teachers from doing so. Teachers should not be pressurised into hiding their sexual orientation. To do so now is likely to be unlawful. Any teachers in this position should contact their union for support and advice.

They have a responsibility to prepare pupils for adult life in the real world, a world of same sex couples as well as heterosexual couples. Key to this is ensuring that the culture of our schools is inclusive and welcoming.

Countering the assumption that everyone represented in the curriculum (including the hidden curriculum) is heterosexual is essential. This is why the NUT is a proud sponsor of LGBT History Month, now in its third year.

LGBT equality is an issue for every teacher.

There are carrots on offer to employers and schools for taking equalities issues I am proud that the NUT is committed to challenging discrimination against The NUT strives to serve the specific needs seriously: reduced truancy, better pupil self-esteem and improved pupil lesbian, gay, bisexual and transexual of LGBT members. For the last 12 years it (LGBT) teachers. The Union has has hosted a conference on LGBT equality performance among others. There are campaigned loudly for over 20 years to in education and campaigned for an end to also big sticks; financial compensation for demand equal rights for LGBT staff and Section 28. It is now seeking to ensure that discriminating against, harassing or young people. sexual orientation equality issues are at the victimising staff being the main one. heart of the Every Child Matters agenda.

The NUT endorses the ‘Exceeding Research and survey evidence published by the Union shows that many teachers witness This is more than an anti-bullying agenda. Expectations’ multi agency project aimed Schools have a responsibility to every pupil at ending homophobia through or are directly confronted by homophobic education. jokes, language and prejudice. This endemic to ensure a safe and secure environment.

CONTACT EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS

If you would like further support in this area please do contact the exceeding expectations team.

Tel: Maria 07957 710 185 or Eric 0845 450 9595. e-mail: exceedingexpectations@lgf.org.uk

WHY DO WE NEED IDAHO? ● 80% of UK schools are aware of incidents of homophobic bullying. ● Only 6% of schools have policies targeting homophobic bullying. ● About one-third of young LGBT people self-harm and/or attempt suicide. ● Most teachers have had no training on dealing with homophobic bullying. ● Many young LGBT people are traumatised by their experience of homophobic bullying at school.

www.idaho.org.uk The official UK IDAHO website is designed to help support all UK groups and individuals who are planning for IDAHO 2007.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Manchester teacher’s experience of tackling homophobic bullying (page 2), Gay themed books for children (page 3), Schools theatre project (page 4).

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS

IDAHO Continued BEING SEEN Throughout history and in a large part of the world today, LGBT young people have been under attack with constant pressure to remain “closeted” and removed from mainstream activities.

Events that help raise the profile of the existence of the UK and global LGBT community also help to demonstrate that a young person’s sexual orientation does not make them any less of a person.

BEING HEARD The LGBT community is still facing discrimination overseas and in the UK. There are very positive changes that have taken place in the UK, through government policy, effective campaigning and good employment practices that should also be promoted.

Supporters against discrimination and homophobia need to ensure that their point of view is recognised by their school.

BEING WELL The well-being of LGBT young people is seriously affected through homophobic discrimination and the International Day Against Homophobia provides an opportunity to raise the profile of either the issues faced or how these are being tackled.

There are also many ways that LGBT young people can use arts and culture and social interactions to look after their wellbeing.

HUMAN BEING The one thing that unites every person on the planet is our humanity and this is recognised within most UK legislation.

Being LGBT isn’t the only defining factor for young people. Many are also defined because of their gender, race, ethnicity, disability or age as well as their sexual orientation.

All forms of discrimination must be fought to ensure a cohesive and supportive environment in school where all differences are as highly regarded as all similarities.

It is a good idea for schools to become involved in IDAHO, because as well as young people you may have LGBT customers, employees, stakeholders, and colleagues that you wish to demonstrate your support towards. www.idaho.org.uk

MY EXPERIENCE OF TACKLING HOMOPHOBIC BULLYING IN A MANCHESTER SCHOOL

by Zoe Inoya I TEACH AT TRINITY CE HIGH SCHOOL, MANCHESTER – AN INNER-CITY SCHOOL WITH A MIXED INTAKE IN TERMS OF ABILITY AND ETHNICITY. THREE YEARS AGO, AS PART OF MY CERTIFICATION IN PSHE (SPECIALISING IN SRE), I DECIDED TO DELIVER A SCHEME OF WORK ON HOMOPHOBIC BULLYING TO MY THEN YEAR 9 TUTOR GROUP. My decision to raise potentially ‘hazardous’ topics for discussion with year nine pupils was based on two issues in my form at the time. One was a case of unpleasant bullying directed at two ‘quieter’ boys and the other was the casual use of homophobic ‘slang’ in everyday language.

My own form was culturally mixed, including pupils from Nigerian, Caribbean and Muslim families and I knew that for some pupils, this would be a difficult area to explore. All parents were informed and happily, no pupils were withdrawn from the lessons.

The series of three lessons were extremely worthwhile and all pupils took part in a variety of activities which included brainstorming all the slang words they know for various sexual orientations and considering their effects when directed at people (the most worrying was ‘pedo’ for

homosexual) and discussions around current news/media stories e.g. homophobia in rap music, the ‘Todd’ storyline in Coronation Street and homosexuality in the church.

All pupils came to the final conclusion that despite our personal beliefs, homophobic bullying is just as unacceptable as any other form of bullying.

Naturally there were extremes of opinion – some based on religious grounds and others on ‘macho’ peer pressure. Some pupils were openminded about individual sexual orientation and felt strongly that it should not influence how we are judged by others and a few pupils felt unable to discuss these issues at all.

I didn’t pretend to eradicate use of homophobic language but I do feel that by raising awareness of a serious issue, small but positive steps were made towards pupils becoming more tolerant and respectful of our differences and individuality.

Despite these differences, pupils were regularly reassured that we were not discussing rights or wrongs and that there are a lot of external pressures which can give us prejudices.

CONTACT EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS

If you would like to share your experiences of tackling homophobia in schools then please email the team on: exceedingexpectations@lgf.org.uk

The Albert Kennedy Trust 2007 marks the 18th anniversary of the death of Albert Kennedy – a young man whose story epitomises the negative impact homophobia can have on young people’s lives.

Albert, a gay man of 16, was a runaway from a children’s home who had faced a life of rejection and abuse.

He fell to his death from a Manchester car park whilst trying to escape a group of ‘queer bashers’.

Today the Albert Kennedy Trust is supporting many young Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender young people, who like Albert are homeless or living in hostile environments after being rejected by their families and friends after coming out as gay.

Many of AKT’s young people have had their education disrupted through the

effects of homophobia on their mental health.

Please contact the Albert Kennedy Trust on 0161 228 3008 or admin@akt.org.uk if you want more information on their services or would like to support their work through a donation.

Supported lodgings - Mentoring & Befriending - Information & advice www.akt.org.uk

For further information please e-mail: exceedingexpectations@lgf.org.uk

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS MESSAGE FROM SIR IAN McKELLAN “Good luck with the Exceeding Expectations initiative which is clearly very important. You have my support and I don’t care who knows it.’’

EE IN ACTION - IN SCHOOLS OVER THE NEXT TERM A NUMBER OF SCHOOLS (INCLUDING NEWALL GREEN, SOUTHERN CROSS AND NORTH MANCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS) HAVE AGREED TO ACT AS PILOT SCHOOLS FOR THE THEATRE IN EDUCATION PIECE, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SUPPORT TO SCHOOLS PACKAGE.

YOUNG PEOPLE’S POSTER CAMPAIGN

These schools will be receiving two pupil workshops, the foundation for the development of the theatre piece.

As well as this, they have committed to: ● Pilot the follow-up lessons to the theatre piece. ● Further develop their PSHE curriculum and cross-curricular links to include sexuality and associated issues. ● Review all appropriate policies to include aspects of sexual diversity.

These schools will be supported

throughout this process by members of the Exceeding Expectations education sub group, who will use the learning from this to produce appropriate and user-friendly materials for use in all schools in Manchester.

This is an exciting opportunity for all concerned, and we will keep you informed of their progress in future newsletters.

UK Trials Gay Themed Books For Primary School Children TACKLING HOMOPHOBIA IN SCHOOLS IS NO EASY FEAT. IT TAKES DETERMINATION AND COURAGE. JUST LIKE ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION, LGBT PEOPLE CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE FOR EQUALITY.

Elizabeth Atkinson, the leader of the No Outsiders project said “what books do not say is as important as what they do.

I’m delighted that Exceeding Expectations is happening.

It’s good to know there is something happening in the North West to tackle this important issue.

I’m looking forward to working in collaboration with Exceeding Expectations in the future, after all we are all in this together.”

The initiative includes two posters, each showing three secondary school students in a corridor and carries the slogans: ‘she’s (or he’s) gay and we’re cool with that’ and ‘Homophobic bullying is not acceptable in our school.’

The campaign mirrors a project currently being developed by young people in Manchester for Exceeding Expectations.

Recently the focus group started developing a poster for Exceeding Expectations.

You may have read in the papers recently about a project called No Outsiders by the University of Sunderland. The project uses children’s books to introduce the notion of LGBT issues to their readers. It includes books such as ‘The Sissy Duckling’ and the ‘Two Kings’ as well as ‘One Dad, Two Dad’s Brown Dad’s Blue Dad’s.

The books introduce issues in a very subtle and sensitive way. Many gay people who have discussed the books say that if they had read these books when they were at school, it would have made a huge difference to their lives.

A poster campaign currently running throughout Ireland’s secondary schools is attempting to tackle homophobia.

They decided the poster should include positive images of LGB people; tips for young people coming to terms with their sexual identity as well as contact details of organisations that can offer advice and support. The posters will be available to your school soon.

For a full list of books, where to get them, and any other further information please email: exceedingexpectations@lgf.org.uk

‘Everyone is an insider, there are no outsiders – whatever their beliefs, whatever their colour, gender or sexuality.’ - Archbishop Desmond Tutu, February 2004.

If you would like more information on the Irish initiative go to www.belongto.org

Online LGBT History Resources There are many sources of information on the history of homosexuality in book form and also freely available on the internet, which provide useful information for anyone studying LGBT history or wanting to find out about LGBT rights through the ages.

GAY TIMES - A VISUAL HISTORY OF THE HOMOSEXUALITY OF MANKIND One of the most innovative websites charting key events in gay history from the dawn of time up to the present day and noting prominent figures in history, has been produced by Gay Times the

world’s biggest current affairs and lifestyle magazine for the gay and lesbian communities. www.gaytimes.co.uk/gt/timeline/ WIKEPEDIA TIMELINE OF LGBT HISTORY Another useful resource is the free online encyclopaedia wikepedia which charts LGBT history from 12,000 BC to the present day, including current progress in LGBT rights. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_LG BT_history

For further information please e-mail: exceedingexpectations@lgf.org.uk

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS

CONTACTS FOR THE EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS INITIATIVE: Tel: Maria 07957 710 185 or Eric 0845 450 9595 or email: exceedingexpectations@lgf.org.uk

MANCHESTER PRIDE LGBT HERITAGE TRAIL

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS SCHOOLS THEATRE PROJECT HOPE THEATRE COMPANY’S ADAM ZANE HAS RECENTLY BEEN WORKING WITH A NUMBER OF SCHOOLS IN PREPARATION FOR THE PLANNED EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS THEATRE PROJECT. The project will use a variety of techniques including video and real-life interviews to explore the experiences of young people in our schools today.

MANCHESTER’S CELEBRATED ‘OUT IN THE PAST’ LGBT HERITAGE TRAIL HAS GROWN TO BECOME ONE OF MANCHESTER’S MOST POPULAR OFFICIAL GUIDED WALKS, HIGHLIGHTING THE TWISTS AND TURNS OF MANCHESTER’S GAY AND LESBIAN PAST. With highlights including the launch of the campaign for Homosexual Equality, and characters such as Quentin Crisp, Noel Coward and Alan Turing, the tour is one thing not to miss for those interested in the LGBT heritage of Manchester.

‘’It is important that today’s generation are aware of what life used to be like for the LGBT community in the city and to acknowledge the community’s involvement in the growth and shape of Manchester.” says Cllr Fairweather.

Teachers that attend the walk would gain a great insight into LGBT history and culture that could be incorporated into lessons.

The Out In The Past heritage trails take place at 3pm on the first Saturday of every month and costs £5 per person.

Tickets can be booked by calling Manchester’s Tourist Information on: 0871 222 8223 or by emailing: touristinformation@marketingmanchester.co.uk Next Tours Saturday 5 May 2007 Saturday 2 June 2007 Saturday 7 July 2007

Adam Zane has been working with students from the school and was present for the first ‘Forum’ on homophobia.

“I was incredibly inspired by what I saw at Parrs Wood Sixth Form Centre’’ says Adam.“ The forum was produced by

IDAHO Exceeding Expectations Showcase Event May 17th 2007 Manchester Town Hall Exceeding Expectations would like to invite you to a very special event being held at Manchester Town Hall on Thursday May 17th.

The lunchtime event coincides with International Day Against Homophobia and is an opportunity for you to find out more about the impact of homophobia on young people’s lives and to consider whether the initiative is right for your school.

The event will showcase a piece of theatre in education, keynote speakers and an opportunity to sign up to the initiative.

If you are interested in attending please contact allison@lgf.org.uk

Adam first became involved in planning the theatre project when he directed ‘The Laramie Project’ – the American play that tells the story of Matthew Shepard’s death.

Matthew was murdered almost ten years ago in a violent, homophobic attack that shocked the world. Part of the presentation at Parrs Wood G EXPECTA DIN TIO EE

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Following the city wide rainbow pavement plaques, tour guide, Manchester City Cllr Paul Fairweather provides a fascinating insight into Manchester’s LGBT community from the 1800’s, to the present day.

One such school is Parrs Wood High School, which recently produced a very successful programme of events including a poster campaign and assembly dealing with the issue of homophobia.

young people, who created a powerpoint presentation and video clips to really engage the audience. It was especially impressive to see the students working with their teachers to try and challenge homophobia in their school.”

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The theatre piece will also highlight the true experiences of young people who face homophobia in schools and will document how some teachers and students are working together to form zero-tolerance initiatives to end homophobia in their own schools.

included the story of Matthew Shepard’s death, Adam continues, “The students had created a very effective tribute to Matthew which was particularly inspiring considering how this theatre project began”.

Adam is still working with a number of schools to help create the theatre project.

To learn more about Hope Theatre Company visit www.hopetheatrecompany.com Should you be interested in becoming involved, please contact allison@lgf.org.uk

EXCEEDING

EXPECTATIONS

Ending Homophobia,

Empowering People

Children’s Services

www.lgf.org.uk

Manchester Multi-Agency Anti-Bullying Policy and Practice Network

Manchester

NHS

Primary Care Trusts Manchester Public Health Development Services

HOPE

Theatre Company

MANCHESTER SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN BOARD

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COMING UP IN EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS: Issue 4 - Exceeding Expectations Annual Review