Non-Normative Gender and Sexual Identities in Schools: - Schools Out
Non-Normative Gender and Sexual Identities in Schools: - Schools Out
Non-Normative Gender and Sexual Identities in Schools: - Schools Out
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around trans. We are really pleased that the DCSF has now commission<strong>in</strong>g guidance on<br />
transphobic bully<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> you know while the trans lobby has been call<strong>in</strong>g out for this for<br />
quite a while, I th<strong>in</strong>k the Government might have been quite [//] until it had started<br />
gett<strong>in</strong>g it’s head around homophobic, homophobic bully<strong>in</strong>g I th<strong>in</strong>k it was slightly at<br />
unease to talk about trans transphobic, transphobic bully<strong>in</strong>g. So, you know we realise that<br />
it’s a step by step approach <strong>and</strong> not everyth<strong>in</strong>g is go<strong>in</strong>g to happen at once. And so those<br />
very progressive schools, <strong>and</strong> there are some out there, you know will talk about you<br />
know the non assumption of heterosexuality <strong>and</strong> they will talk about you know the LGBT<br />
as very much, as part of the community <strong>and</strong> that <strong>and</strong> it be<strong>in</strong>g no different. But we<br />
acknowledge that schools <strong>and</strong> local authorities are all at different stages of of start<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
address it <strong>in</strong> that way.<br />
AM: yeah. That’s great. Mov<strong>in</strong>g on to staff <strong>in</strong> schools. How important do you feel it is<br />
for LGBT teachers <strong>and</strong> other staff member’s at schools to be out at work?<br />
CG: We would always encourage a teacher if they feel comfortable [//] to be out at work.<br />
We would never say they must be out at work, cos you know I’m a gay man <strong>and</strong> I chose<br />
who I tell that I’m gay, that’s completely my bus<strong>in</strong>ess <strong>and</strong> you may have a heterosexual<br />
member of staff who decides not to talk about their private life. Um, I don’t talk about my<br />
private life <strong>in</strong> my office even though you know the majority of our staff here are gay.<br />
Um, but we do know that gay members of staff can be extremely positive role models for<br />
young people <strong>and</strong> if you’ve got staff, you know if a heterosexual member of staff says<br />
you know this weekend me <strong>and</strong> my wife went to you went to the park then there’s no<br />
reason why an LGB member of staff shouldn’t be able to say well me <strong>and</strong> my partner, say<br />
Mr Jones, says well me <strong>and</strong> my partner Bob went to the park this weekend. And they<br />
should feel comfortable to be able to say that. Whether they you know want to say that or<br />
not is up to them, but every teacher should be able to feel comfortable to be themselves<br />
with<strong>in</strong> their class, because if they can’t be themselves, I don’t know how they can expect<br />
young people to be themselves, <strong>and</strong> we do know that, especially for those young people<br />
who are question<strong>in</strong>g their sexual orientation or you know have accepted <strong>and</strong> come out as<br />
LGB to have somebody with<strong>in</strong> their school who sends out a clear message that <strong>in</strong> this<br />
school, it’s f<strong>in</strong>e to be lesbian, gay or bisexual <strong>and</strong> everybody fully supports that <strong>and</strong> I am<br />
a lesbian, gay bisexual member of staff myself, send out a wonderful strong message to<br />
those young people that there’s noth<strong>in</strong>g wrong with be<strong>in</strong>g gay. You know <strong>and</strong> it’s<br />
someth<strong>in</strong>g they should really embrace <strong>and</strong> be proud of <strong>and</strong> not feel different from the<br />
rest, so [//] I’ve digressed a bit, but while we wouldn’t force a teacher to come out, we<br />
really do encourage them to.<br />
AM: Yeah, I th<strong>in</strong>k that’s pretty much the view I take as well. As you mentioned, it can be<br />
used to sort of normalise identities, it gives the kids role models.<br />
CG: Yeah.<br />
AM: And ur I really, I’ve got many teachers, friends who are teachers <strong>and</strong> I advocate that<br />
it’s k<strong>in</strong>d of their responsibility to come out at school <strong>in</strong> the same way as their straight<br />
colleagues. So I th<strong>in</strong>k that example that you gave is really a good one. You know I<br />
wouldn’t say to my friends, you know go <strong>in</strong>to a school <strong>and</strong> shout out I’m gay…
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