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

properly implementing them; and that everybody needs to be challenging the use of
LGBT words in derogatory ways - these words need to be de-stigmatised.
Yes, explicit queerphobic bullying needs to be challenged and we need pro-active and
preventative anti-bullying campaigns, rather than isolated and inconsistent reactions to
specifics events, but this needs to be accompanied by understandings of why this
behaviour is wrong and why LGBT identities should not be marginalised or discriminated
against. No more policy is needed, the framework is there, instead we need to look at
how Safe to Learn (DCFS, 2007a) can be successfully integrated into schools antibullying
cultures, how schools can learn from past failures by recognising and
understanding the experiences of their past and current LGBT pupils and how cultural
shifts can be encouraged to create an inclusive environment for everybody.
Idealistic and optimistic – maybe, but these are complex issues, not ones that are going to
be fixed overnight, so perhaps a bit of optimism and idealism are essential for any
progress to be made.