This week PSHE took a break from the world cup and culture theme to talk about LGBT+ issues as part of June being pride month.
Why do we do this?
While progress has been made in the past few decades to make our society and education more inclusive and safe for all, there is still work to be done.
LGBT+ students are twice as likely to experience bullying and almost half of all LGBT+ students report not receiving any positive messaging in schools about LGBT+ issues in the past year, two in five report never being taught about any LGBT+ issues at all.
This puts LGBT+ pupils at a disproportionately higher risk of depression, anxiety, self-injury and suicidal thoughts.
At SB we are committed to making learning a safe and fun experience for all our students.
Source: Stonewall UK, Anna Freud, NHS
Depending on their age and level students engaged in a number of activities to improve their understanding and discuss inclusion, acceptance, equality and diversity.
What is Pride?
Some students discussed what different relationships can look like and discussed different sexualities and identities while engaging in a variety of activities. Students focused on themes of inclusion and acceptance through open discussions and structured activities.
Optional Activities
During brunch and lunch times students could find word searches on the table that many of our students chose to do! They sparked great discussions even outside of designated lessons!
Stonewall Riots, June ’69
Some students explored the origins of Pride and why it is celebrated in June. They researched what life was like for LGBT+ individuals in America in the ’60s and discussed how this led to the riots at the Stonewall Inn in New York on the days after June 28th 1969.
Students discussed the great milestones that have already been achieved since then like marriage equality in many parts of the world, the Equality Act and the declassification of being gay as a mental illness. They also discussed where there is still work to be done, touching on the criminalisation of being LGBT+ in many parts of the world and the discrimination that is still happening.