Calls to recognize
“gay” primary schoolchildren
Marc Shoffman,
pinknews.co.uk from the Web, June 19, 2006
Researchers are calling on the
Scottish government to give gay primary school children minders to protect them
from homophobic bullying and depression.
The report from the Edinburgh University Centre for Education for Racial
Equality and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Youth Scotland,
recommended “buddy” programmes in schools and anti homophobia classes.
Research was conducted through an internet survey, which found two pupils who
identified as gay and one who was “unsure,” and a further eight 12 to 14 year
olds identified as “gay, lesbian, bisexual or questioning.”
The report concluded, “These young people are clearly identifying their sexual
orientation at a young age.
“This along with the experience of homophobic bullying at an early age calls
into question the belief that all primary and early secondary age school pupils
are unaware and “innocent” of issues surrounding homophobia and sexual
orientation and are therefore unprepared to engage in anti-homophobia work and
the discussion of LGBT issues.”
LGBT Youth Scotland’s Sarah Aboud told the Sunday Times, “Buddy schemes are an
approach that has been very, very successful in the States but there has been
very little of them so far in the UK.
“The idea is to create safe spaces for young people which is really crucial.
“It’s about young people coming together regardless of their sexual
orientation.”
However, Victor Topping, of the NASUWT teaching union, called the
recommendations “an over-reaction.”
“How would a 12-year-old know that he or she is gay?”
“They haven’t experienced life, they haven’t experienced relationships with the
opposite sex. There is no need to teach children in primary school about
homosexuality.”
The Church of Scotland called the report “sinister,” a spokesman told the Sunday
Times, that the recommendations were “totally nonsensical and dangerously
cynical.”
“This is a sinister attempt to sexualise a generation of Scottish children,
children routinely engage in robust name-calling, using insults they don’t even
understand. The idea that this is a concerted campaign to disadvantage one
group of children is laughable.”
Mark Jennett, a writer on issues of homophobic bullying, told PinkNews.co.uk:
“Homophobia, like racism and other forms of discrimination, should always be
challenged in schools.
“Whether or not young children are identifying as gay is not the issue.
Many will subsequently do so and growing up in an atmosphere in which homophobic
comments are not challenged will only make it harder for them to come to terms
with their sexuality.
“Many schools will also have gay members of staff or parents who deserve the
same protection from prejudice as their colleagues. Good schools should be
able to talk about different kinds of loving relationships and there is no
reason why this should not include those between members of the same sex.”
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