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

Acknowledgements
The completion of this project and my MA would not have been possible without a number of people….
I would like to extend thanks to…
Sarah Whitelaw and Robert Vanderbeck for your advice in the early stages, upon which my research
developed; Sally and Shirley for supporting and advising me throughout and allowing me such flexibility
with my work, I would not have made it without you both; Sally Carr for organising the young people in my
focus group; all my research participants; Samantha, Silver and the young people at LGYM, and
particularly Chris Gibbons and Sue Sanders who as well as participating in my research also gave
invaluable, expertise and advice; Jamie, for your constant support and advice, for proofreading tens of
thousands of words and for keeping my head above water when I was sinking; Sheila and Liz simply for
listening and understanding when I didn’t even understand myself; Dario and Fiona for contributing to a
fantastic working environment over the last couple of months and helping me find the words on many
occasions; Gianna, for also being part of that environment and particularly for proofing and adding your
expertise to my work, thank you, you are a star; Rita, for your ever-present support and understanding, I
feel privileged to have found you, we have helped each other through the year and made each other proud;
Geoff, for your ongoing insights, advice, ideas, technical support, invigorating conversation and invaluable
friendship, I am going to miss you; Nic, my Saturday night msn buddy, you stood by my side and held my
hand through my first degree and you’ve held my hand from a far through this one, I would not be here
today without you, I love you hun; ‘Hotel Stacy and Pete’, for providing me with a bed, great research food
and of course King Barnaby Bob and Stack, your daily Facebook motivational words often kept me going;
Alex, Carol and Vix, what can I say, I love you; and Nomi, for simply being you, there are no words!
Special Thanks to…
Ruth ~ for your ongoing support and advice, without which submission of this project and completion of
my MA would not have been possible. You have gone above and beyond to help keep me going when often
it looked as though I may not be able to continue. You have shown me how to think outside the box and to
question the normative - you have opened my eyes to numerous possibilities and directions and inspired me
to go on in more ways than ways than you can know, thank you.
Mum, Laura and Grandad ~ this past 18 months have been the hardest of our lives, but amongst the pain
their has been constant courage and love. We have shown that there is success and hope and together we
are making it through and making Nanny proud, this is for her and for you, I love you always.
And finally, Kiri ~ for your ever present love and support, for listening daily to, and advising me on, every
up and down of this project and of my life, for helping me through the darkest times and most of all for
making me smile, I love you.