Perché parlare di omosessualità e omofobia nelle scuole?

Text taken from the lambda-education website (Switzerland), freely translated by Francesca Macilletti

Perché parlare di omosessualità e omofobia nelle scuole?

The facts:

· 5-10% Of the population is homosexual (Etude Kinsey, 1950).
· Homosexuality is a taboo topic in schools.
· Children grow up in the absence of positive information about homosexuality and know homophobia from an early age.
· Becoming aware of one's homosexuality generally occurs between the ages of 12 and 17.
· One in four young gay men has attempted suicide (Study by Dr Cochand, CHUV, 2000, mandated by the Federal Office of Public Health).

Why talk about it in schools?

· In every class, there are students who feel attracted to people of the same sex.
· In every school, there are gay or lesbian teachers. Most of them hide their emotional orientation.
· ⅔ of parents react negatively to the announcement of their children's homosexuality. The school must be able to be a place of welcome and support.
· Verbal and physical violence against homosexuals is present in school corridors.

What can schools do?

· Address the issues of homosexuality and homophobia, just as other social issues are addressed (racism, family, discrimination, love, etc.).
· Include representations of homosexual people in their teaching programs (languages, literature, sciences).
· Make resources relating to homosexuality available in documentation centers (books, films, brochures, addresses, etc.).
· Create a climate of acceptance of all diversity and allow homosexual students and teachers to live without hiding.
· Train teaching staff on the issues of homosexuality and homophobia (cf. ateliers de sensibilisation).
· Inform and reassure students' parents and include parents of homosexual students in information exchanges.

School is one of the essential keys to growth: it teaches life in common and prepares young people to face the future. It is an environment in which every student must be able to feel safe and develop their personality in a healthy and Encouraging climate. unfortunately, this postulate is not valid for the majority of young gay and lesbian people attending swiss schools.
Teenagers who identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual have no points of reference and struggle to build an identity around their most intimate feelings.
In school, they do not see their reality recognized or mentioned, except in negative terms (insults, ridicule, jokes, etc.). By not educating on this issue, schools do not help young homosexuals to emerge from their silence, leaving the door open to verbal and, sometimes, physical violence, of which these young people are victims.

Unlike what happens with the problem of racism, that of homophobia is not dealt with by teachers. The school can and must ensure that all students can express themselves in their diversity. Its role is to allow everyone to receive an education in the best possible conditions, to affirm and enhance the personalities and differences of each student.
In this capacity, it must present the topic of homosexuality using positive language, in order to respond to its mission of equality and education for all. a School worthy of the name must value and respect everyone, regardless of sexual orientation.

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Original text: Could I talk about homosexuality and homophobia at school?