Schools Out, a British based organisation dedicated to stamping out homophobic bullying in schools is committed to working with young LGBT people in order to reflect their cocerns.  The GYC, in partnership with Schools Out are in complete support of the scheme and as such have added a new forum to the site.  Homophobic bullying is a growing concern in schools and pressure is needed in order to get local councils to recognise the seriousness of bullying and the impact it can have on young LGBT people.  Schools Out are hoping that, with your help, they can get feedback which will be vital in their development of a 'toolkit' for young gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and questioning individual avaiable as an internet resource.  For more information please read on and be sure to follow the links to the GYC forum in order to have your say!

Schools OUT is a campaigning organisation that has been working for equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people (LGBT) in education since 1974. Initially established to support LGBT teachers who had been hounded out of their jobs because of their sexual orientation or gender identity we are increasingly focusing upon young people within schools and what can be done to tackle homophobia and transphobia.

¥  Homophobia is treating lesbians, gay men and bisexuals (or those who may be seen as being LGB) less favorably than heterosexuals because of their sexual orientation.

¥ Transphobia is treating a person who displays their gender in unconventional ways less favorably than those who may be more conventional.

We are currently in the process of updating and revising our website (check out http://www.schools-out.org.uk/news/contents.htm) and have been thinking about introducing a specific Youth area. What general things would you like to see here, or do you think a youth section is unnecessary?

We need your input to make this work.

Part of the proposals for a youth area includes a student toolkit that revolves around a series of questions. This is followed by a list of the ways in which various bits of government guidance and laws are set out to protect you. The hope is that this will enable you to feel more empowered and better able to challenge any sexism, homophobia or transphobia that you come across.

Do you think this would be useful? What kind of things would you like to see included? What type of questions would you like answered?

If you don’t like this idea what else could be created to function as a national resource to help make schools better places for LGBT students?

If you would like to feedback your ideas and/ or see our proposed questions please e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

To contribute your ideas and feedback to Schools Out please visit our forums and click on the Schools Out section under Advice.  Alternatively you can click here to be taken directly to the Forums.

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Comments (15)

12-05-2008 04:35

Awesome Idea. Bout time, being slandered because of your sexuality is rediculous.  
 
Just like being slandered for being a different ethnic background or gender is clamped down on. Slander on sexuality or anything should be gone too.  
 
But I think its IMPORTANT to reteach the new generation what is right and what is wrong the proper way. Not the old way.

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Chelle

23-12-2007 09:17

its good to see some people are finally standing up for us. its been a long time coming, but we're getting there!

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angrydog3101

19-12-2007 17:42

I agree, this is a good idea to stamp out homophobic bullying to a degree, but shouldn't this be a focus of ANY anti-bullying group? It seems a bit like we're segregating types of bullying here. This should really be covered by other organisation since any and all bullying is wrong, whether its regarding orientation, gender, race, ability etc. 
 
But it's still good to see a stand against any bullying.

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ajax0407

30-10-2007 21:21

I love this idea! My high school is an incredibly homophobic place and it needs to change. I am delivering a speech in my school soon about the homophobia in schools and what should be done to change it. I'm getting a lot of stick for it, but who gives a damn, hey? Gay and Proud!!

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longagap

29-10-2007 14:57

I'm glad that something is finally being done as it needs to be , we should be able to be who we are in school and not hide it.My school recently merged with another and before people in my old school were incredibly homophobic , but now in the new school i see noone being like that at all as i think the people in the new school are more open to the fact that people will be gay and there's nothing they can do except accept it

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MCR90

22-10-2007 20:06

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hottyme

20-10-2007 02:43

I think this is a great idea !!  
Although i don't live in the UK, i'm very glad and thankfull to know that there are people who are willing to support young LGBT.  
I got best wishes and hope this can grow and be applied in all shcools meaning internationally.

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Miss_Clandestina

19-10-2007 16:30

Its good to finally see that some action is be taken to get rid of this pathetic nonsense. Being gay doesn\'t change anything about who a person is. 
 
And another thing i\'d like most peope to know is that all gay people aren\'t sex obsessed. most straight people seem to think that all gay people want to do is bend them over and rape them. and thats so untrue.  
 
I also think its about time the whole 
\"Thats so gay\" phrase is clamped down on. Being gay is a positive thing. It adds diversity to the world. Its not negative as that homophobic phrase seems to make out its such a negative thing. 
 
Thanx gyc, your awesome. 
 
Scott, 14, Bourne. 
 
xxx

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Blondie

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