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

AM: …I wonder [//] same sex relationships are routinely talked about at primary level in
other European countries, I was wonder if you think the same sort of policies should be
adopted here?
SS: Well I think we should have polices which are known by everybody which is the
really big deal because DCFS come up with these guidance’s, polices for people that
know about them…
AM: {yep}
SS: …nor are they properly policed, and I think one of the biggies is going to be, and I’ve
met with the EHR now, their confidently saying oh well their very new, we haven’t got
enough staff, they haven’t been signed off by the treasury yet, they haven’t got anybody
specific on LGBT stuff…
AM: {yeah}
SS: …so you know we can have all the polices that there are in the kingdom come, but if
people a don’t know about them and b there’s no-body making sure that people abide by
them…
AM: {yep}
SS: …um it’s a problem. Obviously having them is crucial because then we can come
along and say why aren’t you doing this.
AM: Yep.
SS: But it it it’s a two fold process. You need them and you also need a process by which
they are then checked and sorted. So Ofsted needs to know about them and I think
Ofsted’s inspections can be you know all over the place.
AM: Definitely. I mean I’ve heard a lot of rhetoric about primary schools saying (sigh)
suggested almost that problem, LGBT problems, simple don’t exist in primary schools I
mean…
SS: {Rubbish!
AM: …quite, I mean that’s, that’s what I think and I mean you know I think we kinda
need to normalise as far as possible all varieties of sexualities and genders. I think we
mentioned in our previous interview about the importance of [//] well I don’t think
normalise is the right word actually, the importance of different families…
SS: {I use the word usualise.
AM: That’s a good word actually. Yeah, yeah that is a good word. I don’t like normalise.
SS: No, for obvious reasons. No, I use usualise.