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