Minister Ruairi Quinn TD: “I am committed to eliminating homophobic and transphobic bullying in our schools. This is why supporting and resourcing BeLonG To’s Stand Up! Awareness Week is a key element of the Department’s Action Plan on Bullying. We know that prejudices, such as homophobia, are an underlying cause of much of the bullying experienced by students and so this campaign is helping to make the lives and school experience of many young people better. Stand Up! is particularly aimed at supporting LGBT students who, research shows, experience disproportionate levels of bullying. No young person should be allowed to suffer or to have their education suffer simply because of prejudice towards who they are. I look forward to continuing to work in partnership with BeLonG To to make schools safer places for LGBT students. Together we can assign homophobic and transphobic bullying to the history books” (on the launch of Stand Up, March 2013.)
Minister Ruairi Quinn TD, and Hubert Loftus, DES, at the launch of the DES Anti-Bullying Procedures, September 2013
Thank you to the Dept of Education for generously supporting Stand Up 2014
Background: Stand Up! Awareness Week Against Homophobic & Transphobic Bullying 10th – 14th March 2014
Stand Up! Awareness Week - recommended by Department of Education’s Action Plan on Bullying:
How to use this pack
“In light of the identified need to combat bullying against LGBT young people or young people perceived to be LGBT, DES should support the Stand Up Awareness campaign. The objective of this initiative is to prevent and tackle homophobic and transphobic bullying in schools by:
Welcome to Stand Up! We’re so delighted you want to make your school a welcoming and safe place for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender students. Stand Up is an invaluable tool in creating a positive school climate that includes all students.
• Increasing friendship and support for LGBT students by other students; • Increasing awareness of LGBT students among other students, parents, principals, and others in the school-wide community; • Increasing respect for diversity and LGBT identities; • Increasing the likelihood that LGBT students will report bullying; and thereby • Reduce bullying and attendant isolation, self-harm, suicidality, and mental health difficulties among LGBT students.’’ - Recommendations, Action Plan on Bullying, DES, January 2013, p. 111.
Stand Up! tackles homophobic and transphobic bullying by encouraging friendship between LGBT young people and other young people.
Stand Up 2014! supported by DES Endorsed by Education Partners
The DVD in this pack includes three short videos (discussion guides are in the Activities section.)
We’re honoured that Stand Up Awareness Week Against Homophobic & Transphobic Bullying is endorsed by all of the following education partners:
We hope you will display the Stand Up! posters on your most prominent notice boards – to help create a welcoming school environment.
You are welcome to use the Stand Up pack in ways that are most suitable for your school: • See the Activities section for ideas on teaching students. • See the Background section on why Stand Up! is needed • The Background section has ideas for how Stand Up! can help your school meet the new DES procedures on bullying.
Thank You! • • • • • • • • • •
Association of Community & Comprehensive Schools Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland Education & Training Board of Ireland Educate Together Institute of Guidance Counsellors Irish Secondary School Students Union Joint Managerial Board National Association of Principals & Deputy Principals National Parents Council – Post-Primary Teachers Union of Ireland
Carol-Anne O’Brien, Director of Advocacy BeLonG To Youth Services www.belongto.org PS. The Stand Up pack will also be available on our website in PDF format in English agus as Gaeilge! www.belongto.org
Stand Up! is generously supported by the Department of Education & Skills, with additional funding from ESB Electric Aid and The Ireland Funds.
‘I urge all post-primary schools to participate in Stand Up!’ Minister for Education, Ruairi Quinn TD March 2012.
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Stand Up 2014 Why Do We Need Stand Up?
Why Do We Need Stand Up?
How Stand Up can help your School
1. High Rates of Homophobic & Transphobic Bullying in Irish Schools. In 2013, the Department of Education & Skills (DES) Action Plan on Bullying, stated that the ‘average percentage’ of children in Ireland who report being bullied is 27.3% (p.17). The Action Plan noted that ‘research by the Children’s Research Centre (Mayock et al.) found that 50% of LGBT people surveyed had experienced bullying in schools.’ (p.23)
The DES Anti-Bullying Procedures provide a list of good practices in preventing bullying, of which the first item is: ‘a positive school culture and climate’ (1.4.1.) The Procedures say that positive school climates should be encouraged by: 6.5.4 Initiatives and programmes ... that deal explicitly with homophobic and transphobic bullying. For example, the inclusion of LGBT posters on notice boards, discussions with parents about specific statements of welcome and respect for LGBT members of the school community, teaching the Social Personal Health Education (SPHE) resource Growing Up LGBT and participating in LGBT awareness events.
2. Impact on Mental Health The DES Action Plan on Bullying quotes the finding of the Children’s Research Centre that there is a ‘clear correlation between homophobic and transphobic bullying and serious mental health difficulties among LGBT people to the extent that: • 27% of LGBT people surveyed had self-harmed • Over 50% of LGBT people (under 25) surveyed had seriously thought of ending their lives. • Just under 20% of LGBT people (under 25) surveyed had attempted suicide.
Each Board of Management is required to develop an antibullying policy before the end of second term of the 2013/14 school year. If your school participates in Stand Up, this can be included as part of your work to build a positive school climate. Stand Up can help your school meet the requirements of the Department’s Anti-Bullying Procedures!
3. More Vulnerable Students The DES Anti-Bullying Procedures, released in September 2013, discuss students who are more vulnerable to bullying. ‘These include lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) pupils and those perceived to be LGBT’(4.3.)
Who are BeLonG To? BeLonG To Youth Services is Ireland’s national organisation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) young people. BeLonG To has developed a network of youth groups in Dublin and around Ireland (see below) which provide vital support for LGBT young people. BeLonG To also works with government departments and education partners to combat homophobic and transphobic bullying. BeLonG To’s funders include the Department of Education & Skills, the National Office for Suicide Prevention (HSE), and the Department of Children & Youth Affairs. For more information, please see: www.belongto.org
What are Schools Required to do? A. The DES Action Plan on Bullying points out that the Equal Status Acts: • Prohibit harassment on any of the nine grounds (including sexual orientation and transgender) • Prohibit sexual harassment • These prohibitions apply to all aspects of school life, for example, classrooms, sports fields or school tours. • Schools may not permit students to harass other students. This also applies to staff, parents, or anyone else who has a right to be in the school, including school visitors, such as visiting sports teams or debating teams. • Schools may be liable for any harassment by their staff or others whether or not it was done with the school’s approval • These requirements apply to all schools ‘regardless of religious ethos.’ (Action Plan, p.52-3.)
Any Questions or Feedback on Stand Up? Please contact us: Carol-Anne O’Brien, Director of Advocacy David Carroll, Executive Director T: 01 670 6223 ~ E: info@belongto.org ~ W: www.belongto.org
Action Plan On Bullying
B. DES Circular 045/2013 and Anti-Bullying Procedures • The Department of Education’s Circular 045/2013 requires that all Boards of Management ‘immediately commence the necessary arrangements for developing and formally adopting an anti-bullying policy ... no later than the end of the second term of the 2013/14 school year. (p.2)’ • The DES Anti-Bullying Procedures, published in September 2013, state that bullying prevention strategies must ‘explicitly deal with homophobic and transphobic bullying.’ (1.4.1)
Report of the Anti-Bullying Working Group to the Minister for Education and Skills January 2013
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A Serious Child Protection Issue:
Transgender Students Speak Out:
A Serious Child Protection Issue - Homophobic Bullying
Transgender Students Speak Out*
In 2013, the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, Dr Geoffrey Shannon, published his office’s Sixth Report to the Oireachtas. The Sixth Report is groundbreaking; for the first time, the report discusses school liability in relation to bullying and assesses homophobic bullying in terms of child protection. The Special Rapporteur reviewed research on the extent of homophobic and transphobic bullying in Irish schools and noted the devastating impact on young people’s lives, especially in relation to mental health difficulties such as self harm and attempted suicide.
Trans young people are students in schools across Ireland. Thank you to the members of IndividualiTy (BeLonG To’s trans youth group) for helping us develop these five ideas for how schools can be safe and inclusive. 1. We feel more respected and included if staff use the name/ pronoun we choose. 2. Please be flexible about which uniforms we wear – and hair length, jewellery, etc. 3. Ask us what we need for bathrooms/change rooms – a unisex bathroom may be best. 4. It’s very important to respect our confidentiality (including if we need to transfer schools.) 5. Please fully implement your school’s Anti-Bullying Policy. LGB students would very much agree with this point - BeLonG To
Dr. Geoffrey Shannon, Special Rapporteur on Child Protection Dr. Shannon also quotes former President Mrs. Mary McAleese: ‘Although Ireland is making considerable progress in developing a culture of genuine equality, recognition and acceptance of gay men and women, there is still an undercurrent of both bias and hostility which young gay people must find deeply hurtful and inhibiting. For them, homosexuality is a discovery, not a decision and for many it is a discovery which is made against a backdrop where, within their immediate circle of family and friends as well as the wider society, they have long encountered anti-gay attitudes which will do little to help them deal openly and healthily with their own sexuality. …we could and should decommission attitudes that encourage bullying of all sorts and inparticular attitudes that are deeply hurtful to those who are homosexual’. (p.104) In Recommendation 2.4.2, the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection states: It is recommended that homophobic and transphobic bullying in schools should be considered a child protection issue. As such, schools need to address homophobic and transphobic bullying through rigorous prevention and intervention measures. The Special Rapporteur’s Sixth Report communicates a strong sense of clarity and urgency regarding the daily harassment and violence experienced by LGBT students and those perceived to be LGBT. A copy of Dr. Shannon’s Sixth Report may be found at: www.dcya.gov.ie/documents/PublicationsSixthRapporrteurReport.pdf
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Activities & Resources Creating a Positive School Climate Eight Ideas for Stand Up Week
1. Discuss Stand Up! LGBT Awareness Week at staff meetings; for background information on BeLonG To, show the 5-minute video clip, Ten Years of BeLonGing (in Stand Up pack.)
5. Ask every student in the school to take a piece of paper and write down one idea they think would help create a positive school climate and prevent homophobic and transphobic bullying. Collate the answers. Put a one-page summary on a flip chart in the main hallway during Stand Up! week.
2. Put up Stand Up! posters on prominent notice boards in the school – keep the posters up till the summer.
6. Invite students to make artistic interpretations of ‘Standing Up’ or ‘Support’, e.g. they might take a photo of scaffolding holding up a building. Hold an exhibition of their work for Stand Up! week (Thanks to Wexford LGBT youth group for this idea.)
3. Hold an Assembly about Stand Up! Show the two 4-minute videos, Stand Up for Jen (homophobic cyber bullying) and Stand Up! Don’t Stand for Homophobic Bullying (on DVD in Stand Up pack.) 4. Hold a Chalk it Up! event and invite students to use coloured chalk to write and draw on the pavement for Stand Up! week. They can write positive messages about LGBT young people and friendship. (Thanks to Donegal LGBT youth group for this idea.)
7. Involve students in your process of developing an Anti-Bullying Policy to meet the requirements of the Department’s new Anti-Bullying Procedures. 8. Using wool in the six colours of the LGBT Rainbow Flag (red, orange, yellow, green, blue & purple,) ask students to weave wristbands for Stand Up week (thanks to Wexford/Gorey.)
Chalk it Up!
Gardaí in Donegal participating in Stand Up! LGBT Awareness Week, March 2012.
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Activity 1: Learning respectful language for LGBT people
Aim: To give young people definitions and respectful words for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
What to do: • Introduce the topic by saying that, unfortunately, we all hear negative words about gay and transgender people – often we only hear the negative words and they’re used to put people down. • This educational activity is a chance to learn the positive respectful words for LGBT people. • Break the young people into pairs, give them one or two of the LGBT words, and ask them to come up with what they think is a good definition. • After 15 minutes bring the groups back together and discuss what the participants think the words mean, comparing that with the definitions on the list below.
Materials Needed: Pens, paper, list of LGBT Words Updated. Time needed: 20 - 30 minutes.
LGBT Words - Updated
Sexual orientation: the attraction people feel towards others of a particular gender(s). Transgender, or Trans (Gaeilge: Trasinscneach): An umbrella term for those whose gender identity and/or gender expression differs from the sex they were given at birth, e.g. transgender or transsexual people. Transition: A process in which some trans people begin to live as the gender with which they identify, rather than the sex they were given at birth. Transition may include social, physical or legal changes, e.g. coming out to family & friends, changing one’s appearance and/or name, pronoun, and legal documents, and medical treatment (e.g. hormones or surgery.) In the past this process was called a ‘sex change’. Transphobia (Gaeilge: trasfóbach): Prejudice or discrimination against trans people or people seen as being trans. Transphobic bullying (Gaeilge: le bulaíocht trasfóbach): Bullying based on prejudice or discrimination towards transgender people. Bullying of people who are trans, or who are seen to be trans.
Allies: People who work for equality, especially if they are not a member of a group facing inequality. Bisexual (Gaeilge: Déghnéasach): someone who is attracted to women and men. Biphobia: Prejudice or discrimination towards bisexual people. Coming out: Understanding oneself and telling others about being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. Cisgender: Someone who is not transgender. Cissexism: Assuming that being cisgender more authentic or superior to being transgender. Gay (Gaeilge: Aerach): someone who is primarily attracted to people of the same gender. In the past, the term ‘homosexual’ was used. Gay usually refers to males as many women prefer to call themselves lesbian. Gender identity: A person’s deeply felt internal identity as female, male, or some other gender. Gender expression: How people show their gender, through their dress, hair, voice, mannerisms, etc. Heterosexual / straight: Someone who is attracted to people of another gender. Heterosexism: Assuming that everyone is heterosexual or that it’s better to be heterosexual. Homophobia: (Gaeilge: homafóbach): Prejudice or discrimination towards LGBT people. Homophobic bullying (Gaeilge: le bulaíocht homafóbach): Bullying based on prejudice or discrimination towards LGBT people. Bullying of people who are LGBT, or who are seen to be LGBT. Intersex: An umbrella term for a variety of conditions in which a person is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that does not fit the typical definition of male or female. Lesbian (Gaeilge: Leispiach): a woman who is primarily attracted to other women. LGBT (Gaeilge: LADT): Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans people. Pride: international annual LGBT celebration. In Ireland, most Pride events are in the summer, and often include a parade with people dressed in colourful costumes and lots of Rainbow flags. Rainbow: Since 1978, the rainbow has represented LGBT people. It symbolises LGBT diversity, inclusion & Pride. The LGBT Rainbow flag includes six colours, in this order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue & purple.
Publications from Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) were helpful in updating this list, www.teni.ie
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Activity 2: Videos about Homophobic Bullying Discussion Guide
Activity 3: Video about BeLonG To Youth Services Discussion Guide
Aim: This activity will help students to strengthen their understanding of how cyber bullying and homophobic bullying are hurtful to young people, help build their empathy towards young people who experience bullying, and give them an opportunity to discuss different ways of supporting someone who is being cyber bullied.
Aim: This video can be useful in two ways: • It can be shown in a Staff Meeting, for background on BeLonG To and Stand Up Awareness Week. • It can be used in the classroom to help students learn that LGBT youth services exist across Ireland and what they offer to young people.
Materials needed: TV & DVD player or Laptop & Projector DVD in Stand Up! 2014 Pack – the following video clips (all produced by BeLonG To Youth Services): 2. Stand Up for Jen (4 minutes) on cyber bullying and homophobic bullying. 3. Stand Up! Don’t Stand for Homophobic Bullying (4.24 minutes) on homophobic bullying (this video received over 1 million views on YouTube.)
Materials needed: TV & DVD player or Laptop & Projector DVD in Stand Up! 2014 Pack – the following video clip (produced by BeLonG To): Ten Years of BeLonGing (5 minutes) about BeLonG To Youth Services’ work over the past decade. Time needed: 30- 40 minutes What to do: Show this video clip and use the following discussion guide. The discussion questions can be shared with the young people before they watch the video. The list of BeLonG To’s National network of LGBT youth groups can also be useful (see next page.)
Time needed: 30- 40 minutes What to do: Show these two videos and use the following discussion guide. The discussion questions can be shared with the students before they watch the video.
Discussion Guide: Think: Ask the students to write a short reflection on the clip in their copybook. Pair: Ask students to discuss in pairs the issues raised below. Share: Invite responses from each pair of students, and facilitate a class discussion on the issues raised.
Discussion Guide: Think: Ask the students to write their own short reflection about on each clip in their copybook. Pair: Ask students to discuss in pairs the issues raised below. Share: Invite responses from each pair of students, and facilitate a class discussion on the issues raised.
Examples of discussion questions: 1. Why was BeLonG To founded? 2. What do the young people in the video say about how BeLonG To Youth Services has helped them? 3. How has Irish society changed over the past decades – especially related to LGBT people?
Examples of discussion questions: 1. In Stand Up for Jen, what are the three incidents that upset Jen, and what is hurtful about those incidents? 2. How do you think Jen felt after her friends supported her on Facebook? 3. In Stand Up! Don’t Stand for Homophobic Bullying, what are the incidents that upset the boys? 4. Why do you think the other boys may have joined in the bullying in the laneway? 5. How do you think the two main boys felt when all the others stood up for them in the assembly room? 6. What makes it easier for students to support someone who is being bullied? 7. How else might the two different situations have been resolved?
Key Resource: SPHE Growing Up Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender is the new resource for SPHE and RSE (produced by SPHE and the HSE, in conjunction with BeLonG To and GLEN.) The resource provides a new DVD, background material for teachers, and lessons for all post-primary years. The topics covered in this excellent resource include: respectful communication, understanding sexual orientation and gender identity, coming out, friendship, prejudice, relationships and supports. Growing Up LGBT is also a training programme that empowers and equips teachers and Youthreach trainers to teach the resource in a sensitive and supportive way. For more information, please see: www.sphe.ie.
Feedback from Stand Up! 2012 ‘I am 15 years old, and I just wanted to say thank you so much for this campaign. My Principal gave an assembly on Stand Up and LGBT people and it was so inspiring. I had felt like I might have to stay in the closet my whole life. Now I’m out to two friends and my Principal, who is so kind and helpful and supportive. You guys and my principal helped me to take this step in my journey.’
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Key Resource: BeLonG To’s National Network of LGBT Youth Services
Carlow - Carlow Town: MUI LGBT youth group (14 - 18, flexible), every second Wednesday, 6 - 8 pm, in The Vault, leannecrys@yahoo.ie . Tel. 085 272 2379.
For more information, please contact John Duffy, the National Network Manager of BeLonG To Youth Services: john@belongto.org. Tel. 087 051 7539 / 01 670 6223, www.belongto.org.
Cork - Cork City: Unite Gay/Bisexual young men’s group (15-23) info@gayyouthcork.com. Tel 021 427 8470. Phoenix Youth Group (15-23) young LBT Women info@linc.ie. Tel 021 480 8600. Up Cork (15-23) mixed LGBT young people’s group info@gayyouthcork.com Donegal - Letterkenny and Buncrana: Breakout LGBT Youth Group (16-23) lgbt@donegalyouthservice.ie. Tel. 085 741 1607. Falcarragh - Out in the Yard LGBT Youth Group (15-23) lgbtfalcarragh@gmail.com. Dublin – City Centre: BeLonG To Sunday (14-23), The LadyBirds Young LBT Women (14-23), IndividualiTy Trans Youth Group (14-23), Youth Drop-In (14-23), Over 18s Group. www.belongto. org info@belongto.org. Tel 01 670 6223. Dublin - Tallaght: LGBT Youth Group (15-18) Valerie.scully@ foroige.ie. Tel 01 451 6322. Galway – Galway City: shOUT LGBT Youth Group (14-23) lgbtyouthgalway@gmail.com. Tel 087 773 8529. Key Resource: GLEN GLEN offers a suite of resources designed to ensure schools are safe, supportive and affirming for LGBT and questioning young people. These have been developed by GLEN and the Department of Education in consultation with and with the endorsement of many of the education partners, including management, parent and professional bodies and teachers’ union organisations. This suite of resources is currently being updated and expanded upon to take account of the Department’s 2013 Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools. Pending publication of the revised materials, the existing resources continue to offer information and suggestions as to how schools can address homophobic and transphobic bullying and implement education and prevention strategies to ensure a positive school climate and culture. The existing resources include guides for: Principals and School Leaders; Guidance Counsellors; Teachers; Policy Development. GLEN would welcome the opportunity to work with more schools as they implement the new procedures. Contact GLEN at education@glen.ie for further information or download GLEN resources for teaching professionals at www. glen.ie/resources.
Kerry - Tralee: LGBT Youth Group (15-18) kathleenhiggins@kdys.ie. Tel 066 712 1674. Kildare - Naas: KLGBT Youth Group (14-18) klgbt@kys.ie. Tel 045 897 893. Kilkenny – Kilkenny City: LGBT Youth Group - due to reopen in 2014. See updates on www.belongto.org. Limerick – Limerick City: LGBT Youth Group rainbow@ redribbonproject.com Tel 061 314354. Louth – Dundalk: AIM LGBT Youth Group (14-17). AIM Young Adults Group (18-25) youth@outcomers.org Tel 086 162 5030. Mayo – Ballina: LGBT Youth Group Mayo (14-23) smilynwys@ gmail.com Tel 087 180 2672. Offaly - Tullamore: BurnOUT LGBT Youth Group (18 - 23). Tel 0906477075 Sligo – Sligo Town: LGBT Youth Group Sligo (14-23) smilynwys@ gmail.com . Tel 087 180 2672. Tipperary – Tipperary Town: LGBT Youth Group (14-17) outipp@gmail.com. Tel 087 910 0727. Waterford – Waterford City Centre: Chill-Out LGBT Youth Group – due to reopen in 2014. See updates on www.belongto.org. Wexford – Gorey and Wexford Town: LGBT Youth Group (16-25) david.clark@fdys.ie. Tel 053 912 3262.
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Activity 4: Developing a peer student agreement on welcoming and including LGBT students
Aim: This activity helps students explore how they can help create a positive school climate for LGBT students.
Key Resource: TENI Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) works to improve conditions and advance the rights and equality of transgender people and their families. Trans people face high levels of stigmatisation and discrimination in Irish society which can prevent them from leading safe, healthy and full lives. TENI provides support to trans people and their families, educates wider society on the issues facing trans people and works to secure social, political and legal recognition. TENI supports TransParenCI, a national peer support group for the family members of trans people. TENI welcomes contact from those who have questions about their gender identity or who are looking for support: Tel: 01 873 3575, office@teni.ie, www.teni.ie, www.facebook.com/TransEquality.
Materials needed: large poster paper or chalkboard, markers, scissors, papers, flipchart paper Time needed: About 45 minutes What to do: 1. Using RSE/SPHE ground rules about Respectful Communication, agree with the class in advance that the discussion will not involve talking about any individual by name, or making fun of anyone. 2. Place a large sheet of paper on the wall or use a chalkboard or whiteboard. 3. Split the class into smaller groups of 3-4 and provide the small groups with flip chart paper & markers. 4. Write up/ask the following questions: a. What could we do in our class/school to make LGBT students feel welcome? b. What positive images could we display to make LGBT students feel included here? c. How could we agree to behave, so that LGBT young people would feel safe and welcome? 5. Students may find it easier to come up with ideas if they imagine what they’d want if one of their friends or family was LGBT. 6. Ask each group to come up with at least 3 ideas of things your school or class could do. 7. Return to the larger group and discuss. 8. From each group’s ideas draw up an agreement on the large poster on ways to make LGBT students feel welcome. Examples: The class could include in an agreement that, ‘We will be positive and respectful about LGBT people’. The class could include in an agreement that, ‘We don’t use ‘That’s so gay’ as a putdown.’ The class could agree to put up Stand Up posters and other positive images of LGBT people. The school could agree to teach the new RSE/SPHE resource, Growing Up LGBT. The school could use the Resource List in Growing Up LGBT and the Stand Up pack to let students know about BeLonG To’s National Network of LGBT youth groups.
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BeLonG To: Resources & Publications BeLonG To Youth Services has a wealth of resources for LGBT young people, their families and staff who work with them, for example:
www.belongto.org
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