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

Sandra explained how and why it is difficult to address the use of these terms, for
example when you are on break duty and in charge of over a hundred children, you are
not practically able to address every such comment. However, Sue makes the point that:
…if they were saying oh that’s so black, or that’s so Irish or that’s so Paki or that’s so spaz you
know we would be we would be challenging it on all the other areas. And I find it fascinating that
people trip over themselves to say oh it’s not homophobic, they don’t really know what they are
saying. Where they wouldn’t be saying that if it were spaz or black or Irish, they would be saying
do you realise what you are doing, what are you attempting to achieve? You know that use of the
language in that particular way is clearly provoking hatred in some way or another.
(Transcript 4: 19-20)
Whilst I accept that it may be difficult to continually challenge the use of LGBT terms in
this way, I suggest that practical issues can be overcome. Why not, for example, have an
assembly where the terms and their inappropriate use is explained and students are told
that their use in this way is not acceptable and why. After this, consistency in challenging
the terms’ inappropriate usage, without having to explain every time why, would
reinforce this behaviour as wrong, therefore discouraging it. Furthermore, I feel we
should pay closer attention to what the victim feels about the treatment they are receiving
rather than what the official definitions mean.
Although Sandra said that she doesn’t view this behaviour as bullying, she recognises the
importance of staff picking up LGBT issues and expressed concerns over non LGBT staff
recognising importance of these issues. She says: