So I watched her launch video(below) and also listened to the podcast on her moving blog post for the International Transgender Day of Remembrance.
If I had missed her tweets about this, I would never have been reminded about the events going on this month to celebrate and make LGBT history visible. I would never have been reminded of LGBT history. In this video she talks about why history is important. The focus this year is on sport and the 19th February is the international day against homophobia in football, launched last year.
From the website:
Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans History Month takes place every year in February. It celebrates the lives and achievements of the LGBT community. We are committed to celebrate its diversity and that of the society as a whole. We encourage everyone to see diversity and cultural pluralism as the positive forces that they are and endeavour to reflect this in all we do.
The LGBT History month website has a great page with resources for teachers, not just for the history month but resources for challenging homophobic bullying in schools and for making schools safe places for all children. There are also masses of links to other really useful resources, books, films and music. I especially love these words from the website:
All teachers know that learning can only take place when the atmosphere is right. In addition to lesson suggestions tailored for LGBT History Month we are offering materials, prepared by experienced teachers, to assist schools in:
- ending the official invisibility of LGBT people in the school community and curriculum;
- developing policies that are respectful of their rights;
- tackling bullying, name-calling and abusive language.
As the parent of (a very precious)someone who is from the LGBT community, I know about the human face behind the labels. I'm not going to blog about this here, it is enough for me say that if I as a parent, forget about or do not learn about the history of LGBT rights and struggles, then how will this knowledge ever become part of the mainstream? How will we ever change attitudes? I am a quiet voice in the corner. Occasionally posting something on Facebook or quietly challenging the beliefs that are so prevalent in our language and attitudes. Sometimes my voice has been louder and sometimes it has fallen silent.
I've learned much in the past nine years about the invisibility of LGBT young people in schools and about how these things are not talked about openly in some families. I vow today that LGBT history month will extend for the rest of my life. I am going to start again this month by attending some events and doing some reading. I once attended a FFLAG family group and think that maybe I can start to go back now and take a more active role. I just rewatched the "Parent's Talking" video from the FFLAG website and it's made me cry again, but for quite different reasons this time.
i did not know this either. so thx for the post. and for sharing a snippet of your commitment to the cause. it is inspiring. thank you.
ReplyDeleteMany of my school phobic teenage students on the one-to-one home tutoring programme for my LEA had been through bad experiences. Retired now but glad that my two daughters
ReplyDeletework in professional areas specializing in keeping children safe.
Thank you for your post and your commitment to
this cause to change attitudes and support
our children and young people.
Thank you both. I am hopeful that schools are more aware of how to support than they were, but there is still a long way to go. I hope that the link to these resources will help.
ReplyDelete