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Educating Equality Over 70% of LGBT+ young people are bullied in Scottish schools. Can the government’s plans for progression make the grade in the fight against homophobia? Words by Emma CooperRaeburn
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sn’t it crazy to think, that in 2021, pupils are still suffering daily abuse based on who they love? The relentless teenage torment has resulted in the majority of LGBT+ young people facing mental health problems, but hope is not yet lost. Scotland has become the first country in the world to introduce LGBT+ education into the school curriculum. In a year that the UK government’s shitstorm became even wilder – if that were possible – it appears that Scotland is, once again, leading the way to a kinder and more progressive future. Since May 2017, the Scottish government has been working closely with the Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) campaign, to help tackle the discrimination LGBT+ people face in school. The partnership with the multi-award winning charity means that all state schools across Scotland will have government support through a website, where teachers, pupils, parents, and carers can access ways to assist LGBT+ young people. Teachers will also be mandated to take part in an awareness course on LGBT+ inclusive education. There was a common consensus amongst education staff that this is a progressive step forward. Olivia Blair, a support teacher at Breadalbane Academy in Perthshire, said, “Hopefully, it will educate and inform, and allow ALL young people to enjoy their education without prejudice and bullying. Teenagers, especially, can be inherently ignorant
Illustration by Wiktoria Orlicka
towards the LGBT+ community – it’s a kind of pack mentality – and so the more informed they can be through a widening of the curriculum, the better.” We must remember that this legislation, although aimed specifically at promoting equality and reducing bullying of LGBT+
on delivering a course that understands where homophobia stems from, the impact and the approaches to eradicate it. “I feel students have been more vocal about their sexuality and more forthcoming about expressing themselves. However, I still feel many teenagers are products of either family situations or societal pressure, and I still see homophobia in school. We have tried more to promote LGBT+ issues and the responses are mostly positive, but you do hear the odd groan or see the eye rolls of some students.” Although some Scots like to think our land is above it, as a country we must accept we have a past and a present with homophobia. Now, it’s up to our generation to fight for equality and acceptance for all. Scotland can, and will, lead the way forward towards the goal of a more inclusive society, one that doesn’t accept bullying and abuse of those of different sexualities. The plans for change in our schools deserve praise, but the work must go on far beyond the bell until homophobia in our society is expelled.
SECTION 28 pupils within schools, will be carried on into communities. It is hoped that this will, in turn, reduce the violence against LBGT+ young people happening still too regularly on our streets and in our homes. Sean O’Donnell, a Modern Studies teacher who has already developed a National 5 course that will focus on LGBT+ rights, said, “We are focused
The Conservative government passed Section 28 as part of the Local Government Act in 1988, which banned teachers from educating pupils about the acceptance of LGBT+ relationships. Councils were stopped from stocking library bookshelves with literature containing LGBT+ content, meaning young people had to find educational material elsewhere. The legislation legitimised abuse and homophobic bullying in school playgrounds, which had a damaging impact on the mental health of those in the LGBT+ community.
