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Following @NicolaSturgeon supportive tweet today, we are concerned by misinformation being spread online regarding LGBT-inclusive education in schools. This appears to be focusing on matters related to trans youth, so we’d like to make very clear what the reality is.
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LGBT-inclusive education is an overarching term which describes a policy approach of including LGBT themes across various curricular areas: e.g the equal rights movement under Social Subjects, or family diversity or prejudice and stereotypes under Health and Wellbeing. >
The aim is to take an educational approach to tackling homo/bi/transphobia in schools - that is: addressing prejudice, stigma, and otherisation of LGBT youth by ensuring that LGBT themes are visible in the curriculum. Much the same as we do for racism, sectarianism, sexism etc. >
In the same way that young people learn about e.g. Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King and the Freedom Riders to foster an understanding of racism; we believe that learning about e.g. Alan Turing, Marsha P Johnson and Stonewall would help to foster an understanding of LGBT equality >
We support schools with resources to include discussion of LGBT people and history throughout their curricula. Lead members of our Teachers Panel develop and deliver seminars and training for educators. Volunteers share their life stories for assemblies and workshops. >
A key thing that is being overlooked is that all course content, educational policy, curricular material is and will be age and stage appropriate, like everything else in Scots education.
No one is delivering lessons about surgeries and puberty blockers as some are claiming. >
No one is delivering lessons about surgeries and puberty blockers as some are claiming. >
No one is “encouraging kids to transition” as some are suggesting. A rule of ours, and shared across the sector, which we emphasise with teachers and educators, is that it’s not our job, their job or your job to label any young person. >
There is not a “trans contagion” or “mass transing” of kids in Scottish schools. Suggesting that there is does a disservice to the many teachers who, day in and day out, handle the variety of issues that young people experience, appropriately and with care. >
Likewise, having worked across the sector for 4 years, we have never witnessed anyone from any organisation (or any educator) tell a lesbian or gay identifying young person that they should transition because they defy gender norms and expectations in their presentation. >
There are numerous thematic areas which fall under LGBT-inclusive education: including the impact of harmful gender norms and stereotypes, which are intrinsically linked to the issues some LGBT youth experience. We all want to see these tackled. >
Indeed, there is a lot of crossover between addressing gender stereotypes, sexism and misogyny, and challenging homo/bi/transphobia. They’re not mutually exclusive. Several of our workshops cover these themes often and this is an area that we are all passionate about tackling. >
There is nothing wrong with young people learning about LGBT history, the impact of prejudice, inequality in our society, and lived experiences. This educational outreach approach is used by charities with briefs ranging from sexual health to addiction to racism. >
It is a sad sign that many LGBT charities are now forced to spend time rectifying misinformation, and are decried simply for using the same educational outreach approach which is adopted by countless national organisations across the entire third sector. >
To suggest that LGBT young people, their peers, friends, and families should not see themselves reflected throughout their learning experience, or understand the diverse society we live in, is to uphold the structures which facilitate homo/bi/transphobia. >
On a final note: we are aware, as is everyone else, that there are some people online who would prefer if we dropped the trans community from our remit, policy proposals, and didn’t include trans people in our resources. We’re not going to do that. Now or ever. Thanks. 🏳️🌈
Ps... here are our founders, Trustees, and some volunteers explaining why LGBT-inclusive education is so important #LetsBuildTIE
