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

there may exist a sound basis for challenging queerphobia and heteronormative cultures
in schools, but change on the ground, where it matters, continues to be painfully slow and
pushed forward only by those with a strong passion for equality and change and who are
prepared to put their own careers and personal lives at risk to speak up on LGBT issues.
This is the situation even though when teachers and schools have spoken out about such
issues, results have been fantastic. For example at Stoke Newington School LGBT
identities are celebrated and the school openly educates their pupils about non-normative
identities and issues. As a result, incidents of queerphobic bullying are rare, young people
here are growing up understanding that LGBT people are part of our communities, and
pupils and staff are expressing their LGBT identities freely 23 . Stoke Newington has shown
that preventative measures and inclusive curriculum’s are successful and reactive policies
are not and given that Safe to Learn also suggests this why are more schools not taking it
on board?
This review has shown that there is a wealth of existing literature on the problems of
queerphobia in schools and that there are polices in place which have the potential to
address these problems. However, it has also demonstrated that policies are not being
successfully implemented and that young LGBT people are suffering as a result.
Furthermore, the current literature is extremely pragmatic, for example, highlighting the
problems, but failing to place a human value upon these or suggest practical ways in
which these problems can be tackled – this needs to be addressed.
23 For examples of work being done here see Stoke Newington School (2008).