Does your school teach anything about homosexuality or homophobia in any lessons?

In my current secondary school, which I've been at for 5 years, I've been taught about race and racism, religion and religiousism, heterosexual sex - all many times over, but never a mention of homosexuality and homophobia.

Not being `out` to everyone yet, only a few friends recently, it seems homophobia is somewhat of a taboo in our school - but those few who are out about being bisexual are still often heavily abused, with no interference by teachers. I still often hear and become part of conversations involving people talking about how `weird and disgusting` being gay is.

So how are things in your school, what do they teach?

My first Post

I have to agree with this. Yet has my school said anything about homosexuality let alone teach about it. I know no one at school who is gay or bi and I dont know wheather they are to scared to tell anyone.

My school had the same issue. Everything was extremely heterocentric. Obviously, I didn't like it. So I started to change things. It just took a talk with the health teacher to start off the movement. She said that teaching gay-sex issues as well as straight-sex issues would just wait time, since I was the only gay kid there. I explained to her why teenagers hide in the closet and she really has no idea how many gay kids there might be in each class.

I also explained that gay sex issues were not very different than heterosexual sex issues. I had some research done beforehand, so I also gave her a few sheets of paper with information on where she can find teaching supplies and et cetera.

And just like that, my high school's own personal gay-rights movement kicked off.

ugh tell me about it, my school takes racism very seriously but seem to rank homophobia in the same league as petty name calling. when i first came out to everyone i was called puff repeatedly during tutor period everyday for a month and all that was said was 'leave him alone, its not nice', but then my tutor is a prick and this guy has also been calling me 'tramp' for about 2 years so it wasnt much change. i think half the problem is that nothing ever gets said as the majority of gay/bi people, including myself, pretty much would rather deal with it in their own way so dont tell anyone whats going on

in my planner it says "all students should have the best possible education regardless of age, race, gender, culture or sexuality" yet the teachers do nothing if i get abuse from other students.

Well....

I beleive my school only has around ....
48 students

1 who is Gay
and 1 who is Bisexual (me)

I dont really think there are any others lol

I go to a private international school in Washington State, on a tiny island hahaha lol =]

My school emphasises study rather than socialisation, so the policy is generally "We don't care what you do romantically so long as you leave anything beyond kissing off school grounds, but if you dare pick on any student for any reason you can garentee you will be dealt with". We also have this new "Human Utopia" project that every year except mine has done, where people stand up and say how they've been hurt throughout their lives and then the people who've done it stand up and apologise without repercussions, just because they realise what they've been doing. Lots of people cry, apparently. It's not directly anti-homophobia, but frankly all bullying is the same.

A: Something is bad.
B: Someone is/does something.
C: Therefore someone is bad.
D: If something is bad, then it should be treated badly.
E: Therefore, becuase someone is bad I should treat someone badly.

Once a person connects themselves to "bad" (i.e. F: Bullying is bad, G: I have bullied someone, H: Therefore I am bad) then they realise that they need to reform and not be bad. I think it sounds effective, although I do feel a little concerned with regard to just how personal it all is. Making little evelen and twelve year olds cry is not high on my priorities list: people need to keep their dignity.

Homosexuality was mentioned once I think in my secondary school, in a PSHE lesson. However, it didn't work out that well because the teacher said "There is nothing wrong with homosexuality! (because you get in real trouble these days if you say there is)". It was a joke, but I couldn't quite see in which way she meant it, and of course it wasn't that effective on the rest of the class by saying that.

College has made me feel a lot more comfortable, and although there's nothing like PSHE where people specifically talk about it, the entire atmosphere is more accepting. One of my teachers is gay and no-one cares, and the college seems very approachable if anything's going on.

I get abuse shouted at me all the time get called every name under the sun the school doesnt care I haven't reported it to any 1 its horable it just goes on and on and on.Teachers in classess if i get called anythen dnt even bother. I wanted to leave but I couldent

I think homofobia should be the same as raisim cause if i called a forgin person a name a wud end up suspended but if any 1 calls me a name he-haw f**k all gets done

It should change!

Generally, on the island of Newfoundland, homosexuality is dealt with in this way:

It's not dealt with. People just pretend it's not here.

Though, things aren't that bad right now. I've a tendecy to be rather sharped tounged at times, and all the twats who've said anything to be have been burned so bad they've pretty much given up. It's hard though, at first, when you're figuring things out for yourself. The whole concept of homosexuality is so.. abstract to people here. I hope it will change with time, sooner rather than later.