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Gay Friendly or Gay Phobic:
What Are You Creating?
Douglas Williamson
International School Bangkok
Video clip courtesy of “60 Minutes: Gay or Straight?” (March 2006)
Definition of Terms
• Lesbian: A woman who is sexually attracted to other women.
• Gay: a man who is sexually attracted to other men.
• Bisexual: a person who is sexually attracted to both men and women.
• Transgender: an individual who does not identify with their birth-assigned sex.
dictionary.cambridge.org and www.glsen.org
And . . .
• Sexual orientation: the structure of our romantic, sexual, emotional attraction, i.e., gay, lesbian, or bisexual.
• Gender identity: an individual’s inner sense of self as “masculine” or “feminine.”
• Gender role: socially determined sets of behavior (i.e., “masculine” or “feminine”) assigned to people based on their biological sex (i.e., male or female).
www.glsen.org
Who Are We Talking About?
• Gay males report becoming aware of “being different” between ages 5-7, but do not connect this feeling to sexuality.
• The median age at which gay and lesbian youth become aware the feelings of “difference” are linked to same-sex sexual orientation is age 13.
• 9% of high school students identify as “gay, lesbian, bisexual, or questioning.”
www.lambda.org
Why Are We Talking?
• 2005 National School Climate Survey polled over 3,400 US students aged 13-18 and over 1,000 secondary students.
• Results found:– 62% of teens have been verbally or physically
harassed or assaulted in the past year.– 90% of LGBT teens have been harassed or
assaulted in the past year.– The most common reason cited is a student’s
appearance (40%).– The second most common reported reason is
perceived or actual sexual orientation (33%).2005 National School Climate Survey
Further Results
– 75% of students have heard derogatory remarks such as “faggot” or “dyke” frequently or often at school.
– 89% have heard “That’s so gay” or “You’re so gay” frequently or often.
– LGBT students are five times more likely to have skipped school in the past month.
– LGBT students who are frequently harassed are twice as likely not to go to college.
– 7% of non-LGBT students do not feel safe at school.
– 22% of LGBT students do not feel safe at school.
2005 National School Climate Survey
Further Results
– 57% of students never report to a teacher or school personnel.
– 10% say it is because they feel teachers or staff do not do anything or are powerless to improve the situation.
– 67% of LGBT students do not report.– 23% of the LGBT students do not report
because they feel teachers/staff will do nothing or are powerless.
2005 National School Climate Survey
Table Activity 1
• Introduce yourself and discuss in round table format:– What are your thoughts
and reactions in regard to these statistics? To the video?
– Would these US statistics be the same in an international setting?
– What would the statistics be at your school?
Where Do Teachers Stand?
• 53% of students hear homophobic remarks from school staff.
• 97% of teachers fail to intervene when they hear anti-gay slurs.
• Less than 20% of counselors have received any training on serving LGBT students.
• 78% of administrators say they know of no LGBT students in their schools, yet 94% of them say their schools are safe places for these students.
Sears, James. Educators, Homosexuality, and Homosexual Students. 1992
Table Activity 2
• Use the paper and markers at your table to list what policies and practices you have in place to safeguard LGBT students/faculty or to raise awareness of such issues.
• Consider bullying policies, discrimination policies, curriculum, classroom literature, library resources, Gay and Lesbian Student Alliances, etc.
What Are International Schools Doing?
• In an email survey of 22 international school counselors, results found:– 15 schools had a bullying policy but only 5
specifically mentioned sexual orientation.– 9 schools had gay/lesbian issues as part of their
curriculum.– 1 school had a Gay-Straight Alliance.– 8 schools had a clearly stated antidiscrimination
policy in their faculty handbooks and/or contracts but it did not always include sexual orientation.
– 6 schools offered benefits for same-sex partners of teachers.
What Can Teachers Do?
• Challenge homophobic remarks and address misconceptions.
• Treat such persistent remarks as bullying.
• Make no assumptions about sexuality; let students label themselves.
• Examine posters, materials, and resources in your classroom.
What Can Teachers Do?
• If you cannot be supportive, refer to someone who can be.
• Respect confidentiality.• Use inclusive language
(parent vs. mother/father, date vs. boyfriend/girlfriend, spouse vs. husband/wife.)
• Role model acceptance.
What Can Schools Do?
• Create bullying policies that include sexual orientation.– 85% of US secondary school teachers agree
they have an obligation to provide a safe learning environment for LGBT students.
– 73% strongly endorse this view.– 71% believe anti-harassment and
antidiscrimination policies would help. – Schools with a comprehensive policy
specifically mentioning sexual orientation had more students feeling safe (95%), fewer students reporting harassment, and more faculty intervening. 2005 National School Climate Survey
Schools Can Also . . .
• Draft antidiscrimination policy that includes sexual orientation and promote such acceptance at job hiring fairs.
• Conduct staff and parent training on awareness of LGBT student issues.
• Become aware of community resources/agencies.• Incorporate gay/lesbian issues into your
curriculum.• Review library circulation to ensure materials are
available to students.• Support students and faculty who come out.• Be inclusive in regard to same-sex spouses.• Participate in No Name-Calling Week.
Do You Hire Teachers From . . .
• Gay Marriage– The Netherlands– Belgium– Canada – Spain– Massachusetts,
USA
• Civil Union or Registered Partnership– Denmark– Norway– Sweden– Iceland– France– Germany – Finland– Luxembourg– New Zealand– Britain– Vermont, Connecticut,
Oregon, New Hampshire (USA)
Want to Know More?
• www.pflag.org• www.lambda.org• www.glsen.org• www.nasponline.org• www.nmha.org
Video clip courtesy of “60 Minutes: Gay or Straight?” (March 2006)
Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself.
~Harvey Fierstein, actor
Closing Thought