When i was at school, three years ago. We did a subject called PSHE(Personal Social, Health Education) There are variants of this. And it is on the syallabus to teach about homophobia, not tips and things! But that its wrong, We also did this in RE in a equality module. Was loosly covered in media, under advertisitng and attitudes.

Problem with schools is male teachers see you as a threat to them. They thing you will come on to them. Also untill recently code 28 stopped them teaching this in schools. I am trying as a union officer to go into schools in my area to educate both teachers and pupils as part of equal opertunities.. As it has been proven young persons who come out at school 4 out of 5 are bullied.

There has been absolutely nothing taught or even mentioned about homosexuality or homophobia in my current school.

I asked the RE teacher and she said that it wasn't neccesary.

No.
Homosexuality isn't even mentioned here, even though there was an openly gay kid here 2 years ago.
My old gym teacher made fun of him on occasion [homophobically].
And my band teacher is openly homophobic.
It's disguisting, really.

I have decided that I am going to approach our head of PSHCE (she said she's going to add a new letter to the name each year ) about including homophobia and homosexual issues in the curriculum.

I doubt it will do any good though, as she's a pretty anti-homophobic person already so I assume if there was the space or resources she would have already included it.

Anythings worth a try though!

In my school, they bring gay speakers into our health class to talk about homosexuality. One man who came in was pretty old (late 50s-60s) and said how he regretted not comming out sooner, and letting life pass him by. Also, a lesbian came and talked to us as well. They didnt mention their sexuality, and started by just talking to us (to show that they are regular people, just like everyone else) When they actually told us they were gay, very few ppl seemed to mind (It was a surprise to me. most of the ppl were like "w/e, i have nothing agains gays&quot This talk they did, spurred me to come out to my close friend... and then one after the other, all of my friends found out (I still havent told the folks)

But yeah, our school does take an initiative to educate people, and it helps a lot.

In my skool, the topic isn't discussed explicitly in any classes BUT the teachers tend to be very supportive...

the students use the term as synonymous to stupid, but if you out yourself to them, MOST wont' harass u... they'll just go like"... oh... ummm... *awkward silence*... *attempts to change topic*"

but actually, there is a section in my psychology textbook that talks about homosexxuality sooooo... its possible that later in the year, there'll be some discussion on it...

I know it was never taught when I was still at school... but that was because it was prevented by Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 (c9) until 2003.

"Prohibition on promoting homosexuality by teaching or by publishing material.
A local authority shall not -
a. intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality;
b. promote the teaching in any maintained [at the public expense] school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship."


That doesn't exist anymore, but there is nothing (that I'm aware of, at least) that says it has to be included as part of the curriculum (just that discrimination should not be tolerated). Because it doesn't HAVE to be taught, schools haven't bothered to change what they teach very much over the past few years, so it probably won't come up all that often in UK schools.

p.s. I see you're from Sheffield Harrison. I'm at uni there at the mo.

In my school we have a gay&straight alliance club but its the mostboring thing ever and not alot of people even know it exists in my school.i do get picked on but only from my friends as a joke and i do the same, i guess i look a little intimidating(well if you saw a new pic of me) so i think that might be why...besides a few other people(the retarded annoying homophobes at my school) who dont even bother cause they know they would get dised and burned till the cows got home...besides one kid who likes hitting me with eggs and other vegetables...so i told his parents that id sue him for a hate crime and that was 2 weeks ago...we still dis each other(well he tries) but atleast he doesnt do anything physical anymore.

the point of the story is...fight back in anyway possible, be confident, dont sit back and take it like a plant.

the number one insult mostly used is fag and faggot.
if people call you that dont get mad or upset, because a fag is a cigarette bud and a faggot is a bundle of sticks.so tell them that and that its pointless to use those words.or they call you queer or homo, all their doing is pointing out the obvious so its not an insult at all...<br /><br />Post edited by: crdb5066, at: 2007/11/06 10:52

I'm lucky enough to go to a really left wing school, where I can be openly gay without being hassled. We recently had our year 11 sex ed camp, adn not only was there homosexual safe sex, but also a whole unit about homophobia. i'm lucky i go to such an open minded school.
my old school, however, which was an all girls school, was not as good. lol but i think taht school was just in denial about sex as a whole, as i do not rememebr condoms ever being emntioned until year 9 or 10.