Non-Normative Gender and Sexual Identities in Schools: - Schools Out

SS: …as I say it is in what way [//] it’s not celebrating LGBT people in any way shape or
form. If the word was black or spaz, or Paki or or Paddy they would be challenging it.
AM: Yeah.
SS: And they would have no difficulty in challenging it. They would know, you know
even though that the word had changed its meaning in the same way they would know it
hasn’t changed it’s meaning you have alighted on a word which is about a group of
people that have no power, that there’s prejudice about and it is not acceptable. The fact
that its about lesbian and gay people [//] where which which they have had very little
experience of knowing how to deal with [//] one of the things that I have had, one of my
fantasies around this is that I think that there’s massive links between disabled people and
LGBT people. There is a potential that you could become disabled at any time.
AM: Yep.
SS: And I think there is an awareness in a lot of people that heterosexuality isn’t
necessarily 100% set. Even when people say, you know I have never considered it. My
guess is, most people at some point have recognised some same sex you know
recognition and and attraction and and affection.
AM: Yep.
SS: Its 15.06 and I need to go.
AM: Oh, goodness we need to…
SS: {Um so I think there is perhaps, because teachers don’t have that chance to have
those conversations about themselves and around thinking it through [//] when talking
about sexual orientation it is such a personally un thought through and dodgy area, they
don’t wanna touch it cos they’re not clear about it, they don’t wanna touch it cos local
papers will have a field day is there fear, they don’t wanna touch it because parents will
have a field day they have a fear, although the Stonewall research is really interesting,
73% of parents are comfortable with the idea of their kids being taught by lesbians and
gays, so [//] until we skill our teachers up and give them the competence and the
confidence to deal with this, there’s gonna be crap going on in our schools.
AM: Yeah. I think that’s probably an excellent way to conclude then, seeing as we’ve run
out of time I think that summarises it very well.
Transcript 25/06/08:
AM: Ok, picking up from where we left off before, umm, the first question, you
mentioned in our previous interview the importance of [//] for example Elizabeth’s work
in primary schools, Elizabeth Atkinson work…
SS: {yeah}