Gay and Lesbian Identity
As far as schools are concerned, Riverside is a pretty inclusive school. However, like all institutions, there is lots more we could be doing to make our community more inclusive for GLTB students, beginning with our definitions of sexual diversity [http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-20/sexual-fluidity-label-free-life/7162884]. The Sexy Times is an online zine created by young people and put out by the Centre for culture, ethnicity and health. There's a fabulous activity about gender and sexuality on p.28-29 that would be a good way to start interviewees reflecting on their identities. Free2be? E x p l o r i n g t h e s c h o o l i n g e x p e r i e n c e s o f A u s t r a l i a ’ s s e x u a l i t y a n d g e n d e r diverse secondary school students identitfies most of the key issues Gender nad sexuality diverse students face in school. It's put out by Yeah Aware who have some excellent LGBTIQA+ resources.
If you are exploring this topic for your IRP some of the issues you could look at are:
GLTB Youth - Visibility and Homophobia
A student's sexuality is often not visible and this means that their identities are subsumed (=covered over) by the heterosexual norms of our society. This means that GLTB youth are effectively invisible - which has a direct impact on homophobia. You wouldn't (I hope!) make a racist joke around a person of that race, but people make homophobic jokes and comments all the time because they do not realise that there may be a GLTB person listening. What impact do you think this has on that person's identity? Making school safer is thus not just a matter of targeting bullies but of changing the way we perceive gender and sexuality as a community. You can read more about this situation at Challenging Homophobic Bullying in Schools: the Politics of Progress [http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=8261597&fileId=S1744552311000061]. You will need a university or State library log-in to access this article.
You can read about the effects of homophobic school communities in these letters from gay and lesbian students [http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/letters-from-gay-australian-students-how-our-schools-tried-to-8216fix8217-us/story-fnixwvgh-1226730816449]. A quick search of "homophobia" + "schools" will bring up newspaper articles with various accounts of the in/effectiveness of strategies for dealing with homophobia.
The NSW DEC [https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/policies/student_serv/student_welfare/homoph_sch/PD20050287.shtml] and Victorian State Government [http://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/about/programs/bullystoppers/homophobic.pdf] have created guidelines for teachers who want to combat homophobia in their schools. Resources include Safe Schools, Victoria's Stand Out package [http://www.glhv.org.au/files/Stand%20Out.pdf]] and the NSW Teachers' Federations Anti-homophobia guidelines [https://www.nswtf.org.au/files/inclusion_of_anti-homophobia_in_school_bullying_policy.pdf] You may also want to contact or join the NSW Teacher's Federation's Gay and Lesbian Special Interest Group [https://www.nswtf.org.au/pages/gay-lesbian-special-interest-group.html] which meets on Saturdays in Surry Hills.
Homophobia doesn't go away when you leave school - here's what a gay politician has to say about homophopbia in Australia: Gay rights and the glass ceiling [http://insidestory.org.au/gay-rights-and-the-glass-ceiling/]. The statistics in Mapping Homophobia in Australia [http://www.glhv.org.au/files/aust_inst_homophobia_paper.pdf] (2005) show the full extent of the problem, but don't forget - things are changing - use recent stats too..
GLTB Youth - Mental Health
Beyond blue (originally criticised for not supporting GLTB youth) is one of the leading organisations to research the impact of GLTB identities on mental health, especially the high suicide rate in the GLTB community [https://www.beyondblue.org.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/bw0258-lgbti-mental-health-and-suicide-2013-2nd-edition.pdf?sfvrsn=2].They have a quick Factsheet [http://resources.beyondblue.org.au/prism/file?token=BL/0648] and an in depth sociological study [https://www.beyondblue.org.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/bw0257-going-upstream-online-o-lgbti-mental-health-promotion-framework.pdf?sfvrsn=2] of issues relating to GLTB people and mental illness.
If you are exploring this issue, it is important to realise that a GLTB identity is not a mental health condition. These studies do not mean there is a direct link between GLTB sexualities and mental illness, but that hetero-normativity (=making heterosexuals normal and other sexualities abnormal) and homophobia have a negative effect on GLTB youth's mental health. If we can target these problems as a society, we can reduce the incidence of mental health concerns in the community.
Curriculum inclusivity
The National curriculum specifies "sexual inclusivity" as something that must be taught across all subjects in all years. The NSW DEC [http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/sexual_health/inclusive/diversity.htm] provides a basic list of issues and classroom activities for teachers. The Star Observer, [http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/draft-national-curriculum-fails-on-sexual-health-and-lgbti-bullying/107852] a Sydney GLTB newspaper states that this is not enough to support GLTB students. The NSW Teachers' Federation has created a fact sheet [https://www.nswtf.org.au/files/infoleaflet_supporting_people_of_diverse_sexuality_and_genders_in_education.pdf] and addressed specific concerns at their annual conference [https://www.nswtf.org.au/files/gender_sexuality_and_identity_policy_0.pdf]. One possible path for your IRP is to look at the advice given at the conference and anayse how much of this has been implemented at Riverside - from teacher, student and parent perspectives.
GLTB Teachers
Heteronormativity and homophobia can also make schools difficult for teachers who have to decide whether or not to be "out" to colleagues and students or whether to consciously avoid or use gender-neutral language when talking about their private lives. In NSW it is legal for some schools to discriminate against GLTB employees! [http://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/2015/02/27/calls-to-enhance-protection-for-lesbian-and-gay-teachers-in-private-schools/] despite the efforts of orgnaisations such as the Australian Education Union [http://www.aeufederal.org.au/application/files/1414/5852/4558/Policy-SOGII2015.pdf].
These articles provide some interesting thoughts:
The Guardian [http://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/jun/16/lesbian-teacher-out-classroom-gay-students-school]
The Guardian [http://www.theguardian.com/education/2012/nov/26/gay-teachers-homophobia-stonewall-research]
Brisbane Times [http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/keep-in-neutral-being-a-gay-teacher-20140704-zsvtv.html]
SMH [http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/gay-teachers-in-catholic-schools-hide-sexuality-20130124-2d9oa.html]
For an academic look at the situation, log into the state library to access School's Out: Gay and Lesbian Teachers in the Classroom [http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/j.ctt9qh2tp]. The Overview of the Rights of Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Teachers [http://www.qrd.org/qrd/www/orgs/glstn/teachers.legal.rights] gives an American perspective, but you could investigate similar cases in Australia. Some of these ideas are explored in Lesbian and Gay Teachers: Negotiating identity in Sydney Schools [http://researchdirect.uws.edu.au/islandora/object/uws%3A22683] (you may need to contact UWS to access it).
For a historical look at issues surrounding sexuality discrimination try Sydney's Pride History Group [http://camp.org.au/gay-lesbian-liberation-period/activist-groups/gay-teachers-and-students]
If you are exploring this topic for your IRP some of the issues you could look at are:
GLTB Youth - Visibility and Homophobia
A student's sexuality is often not visible and this means that their identities are subsumed (=covered over) by the heterosexual norms of our society. This means that GLTB youth are effectively invisible - which has a direct impact on homophobia. You wouldn't (I hope!) make a racist joke around a person of that race, but people make homophobic jokes and comments all the time because they do not realise that there may be a GLTB person listening. What impact do you think this has on that person's identity? Making school safer is thus not just a matter of targeting bullies but of changing the way we perceive gender and sexuality as a community. You can read more about this situation at Challenging Homophobic Bullying in Schools: the Politics of Progress [http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=8261597&fileId=S1744552311000061]. You will need a university or State library log-in to access this article.
You can read about the effects of homophobic school communities in these letters from gay and lesbian students [http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/letters-from-gay-australian-students-how-our-schools-tried-to-8216fix8217-us/story-fnixwvgh-1226730816449]. A quick search of "homophobia" + "schools" will bring up newspaper articles with various accounts of the in/effectiveness of strategies for dealing with homophobia.
The NSW DEC [https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/policies/student_serv/student_welfare/homoph_sch/PD20050287.shtml] and Victorian State Government [http://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/about/programs/bullystoppers/homophobic.pdf] have created guidelines for teachers who want to combat homophobia in their schools. Resources include Safe Schools, Victoria's Stand Out package [http://www.glhv.org.au/files/Stand%20Out.pdf]] and the NSW Teachers' Federations Anti-homophobia guidelines [https://www.nswtf.org.au/files/inclusion_of_anti-homophobia_in_school_bullying_policy.pdf] You may also want to contact or join the NSW Teacher's Federation's Gay and Lesbian Special Interest Group [https://www.nswtf.org.au/pages/gay-lesbian-special-interest-group.html] which meets on Saturdays in Surry Hills.
Homophobia doesn't go away when you leave school - here's what a gay politician has to say about homophopbia in Australia: Gay rights and the glass ceiling [http://insidestory.org.au/gay-rights-and-the-glass-ceiling/]. The statistics in Mapping Homophobia in Australia [http://www.glhv.org.au/files/aust_inst_homophobia_paper.pdf] (2005) show the full extent of the problem, but don't forget - things are changing - use recent stats too..
GLTB Youth - Mental Health
Beyond blue (originally criticised for not supporting GLTB youth) is one of the leading organisations to research the impact of GLTB identities on mental health, especially the high suicide rate in the GLTB community [https://www.beyondblue.org.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/bw0258-lgbti-mental-health-and-suicide-2013-2nd-edition.pdf?sfvrsn=2].They have a quick Factsheet [http://resources.beyondblue.org.au/prism/file?token=BL/0648] and an in depth sociological study [https://www.beyondblue.org.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/bw0257-going-upstream-online-o-lgbti-mental-health-promotion-framework.pdf?sfvrsn=2] of issues relating to GLTB people and mental illness.
If you are exploring this issue, it is important to realise that a GLTB identity is not a mental health condition. These studies do not mean there is a direct link between GLTB sexualities and mental illness, but that hetero-normativity (=making heterosexuals normal and other sexualities abnormal) and homophobia have a negative effect on GLTB youth's mental health. If we can target these problems as a society, we can reduce the incidence of mental health concerns in the community.
Curriculum inclusivity
The National curriculum specifies "sexual inclusivity" as something that must be taught across all subjects in all years. The NSW DEC [http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/sexual_health/inclusive/diversity.htm] provides a basic list of issues and classroom activities for teachers. The Star Observer, [http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/draft-national-curriculum-fails-on-sexual-health-and-lgbti-bullying/107852] a Sydney GLTB newspaper states that this is not enough to support GLTB students. The NSW Teachers' Federation has created a fact sheet [https://www.nswtf.org.au/files/infoleaflet_supporting_people_of_diverse_sexuality_and_genders_in_education.pdf] and addressed specific concerns at their annual conference [https://www.nswtf.org.au/files/gender_sexuality_and_identity_policy_0.pdf]. One possible path for your IRP is to look at the advice given at the conference and anayse how much of this has been implemented at Riverside - from teacher, student and parent perspectives.
GLTB Teachers
Heteronormativity and homophobia can also make schools difficult for teachers who have to decide whether or not to be "out" to colleagues and students or whether to consciously avoid or use gender-neutral language when talking about their private lives. In NSW it is legal for some schools to discriminate against GLTB employees! [http://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/2015/02/27/calls-to-enhance-protection-for-lesbian-and-gay-teachers-in-private-schools/] despite the efforts of orgnaisations such as the Australian Education Union [http://www.aeufederal.org.au/application/files/1414/5852/4558/Policy-SOGII2015.pdf].
These articles provide some interesting thoughts:
The Guardian [http://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/jun/16/lesbian-teacher-out-classroom-gay-students-school]
The Guardian [http://www.theguardian.com/education/2012/nov/26/gay-teachers-homophobia-stonewall-research]
Brisbane Times [http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/keep-in-neutral-being-a-gay-teacher-20140704-zsvtv.html]
SMH [http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/gay-teachers-in-catholic-schools-hide-sexuality-20130124-2d9oa.html]
For an academic look at the situation, log into the state library to access School's Out: Gay and Lesbian Teachers in the Classroom [http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/j.ctt9qh2tp]. The Overview of the Rights of Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Teachers [http://www.qrd.org/qrd/www/orgs/glstn/teachers.legal.rights] gives an American perspective, but you could investigate similar cases in Australia. Some of these ideas are explored in Lesbian and Gay Teachers: Negotiating identity in Sydney Schools [http://researchdirect.uws.edu.au/islandora/object/uws%3A22683] (you may need to contact UWS to access it).
For a historical look at issues surrounding sexuality discrimination try Sydney's Pride History Group [http://camp.org.au/gay-lesbian-liberation-period/activist-groups/gay-teachers-and-students]