Gay and Lesbian Bingo
Age Duration Group size
10-15+ 20-30 minutes 5+
Overview The children play a game of bingo to show how lesbians and gay men are often defined merely by their sexuality rather than the wider context of their being. Objectives • To show that gay and lesbian people live regular lives like anyone else • To raise awareness that gay and lesbian people should not only be defined by their sexuality Materials • Pens/ pencils and a sheet of paper for everyone • One piece of flipchart paper Preparation Write on flipchart paper things that people like, such as: riding bikes, eating in restaurants, going on holiday, reading, hiking, watching films. Don’t show it to the participants yet. Step-by-step instructions 1. Give everyone a sheet of paper. Ask participants to draw a table with 3 rows and 3 columns. 2. Give everyone five minutes to write in each box ‘one thing gay and lesbian people like’. Tell them that after wards you will read out things they like and when something is mentioned that they have on their sheet, they can make a cross in this box. When they have a row, column or diagonal with crosses, they can shout ‘BINGO’. The first one to say ‘bingo’ wins the game. 3. After 10 minutes, start to read out the things that you have put on the flipchart paper. 4. Play the game until someone calls bingo or for up to five minutes (it may be that no one has a line). Debriefing • What did you write on your bingo sheet? • What would you have written if you were asked the same question about black people? About women? About old people? About heterosexuals? • Why do we first think of the things that make a group different from ourselves? (If this is what they did.) Tips for facilitators This activity can really open participants’ eyes, but can also lead to reinforcing stereotypes if the debriefing is not well facilitated, so make sure you don’t end the activity too early. You can use the same method to work on gender stereotypes by asking: What do men, women, or trans* gender people like?
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