 |
|
 Find related Equality and diversity training courses. See all courses.  |
LGBT equality education only way to stop homophobic bullying, says TUCTUC General Secretary Brendan Barber will today (Thursday) call on the Government to include lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) equality education in the school curriculum, as the only way to address homophobic bullying in schools. Speaking at the TUC's annual LGBT conference in London, Brendan Barber will say that schools need to protect their pupils from homophobic bullying, and that promoting LGBT equality in the classroom is the best solution: 'While the UK's education system ought to be in the vanguard of the fight against homophobic discrimination, all too often it is in fact part of the problem. 'Whereas our schools and colleges have done much to counter racism and sexism, the same cannot be said when it comes to tackling homophobia. Despite some notable exceptions, too many educational establishments are breeding grounds for the worst kind of casual prejudice. 'A survey by Stonewall last year* laid bare the huge scale of the problem. Indeed its shocking findings ought to act as a wake-up call to us all. Almost all LGBT pupils reported hearing homophobic abuse. No less than two thirds reported being the victims of bullying. And perhaps most alarming of all, one in six said they had been subjected to death threats. 'The consequences of all of this don't just impact on academic attainment, which takes a pretty big hit. Don't just impact on mental health, which is suffering as incidences of self-harm rise. But also on the self-esteem of young LGBT people, which is being shattered. 'Schools and colleges doing are not doing enough. Fewer than a quarter have categorically said that homophobic bullying is wrong. And while 99 per cent of schools told the Stonewall survey they had general anti-bullying policies, just six per cent had anti-bullying policies that dealt with LGBT issues. 'That's why the TUC has joined forces with the teaching unions, Stonewall and other LGBT groups to make LGBT equality education becomes a priority for Government. 'By working, campaigning and by lobbying, genuine progress can be made.' NOTES TO EDITORS: * The Stonewall survey - The School Report - is available from: http://www.stonewall.org.uk/education_for_all/research/1790.asp - The LGBT conference is from 11am-6pm on Thursday 3 July and 9.30am-5.30pm on Friday 4 July at Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS. Speakers on Thursday are: TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber, No Outsiders project spokesperson Mark Jennett and Government Equalities Office Minister Barbara Follett MP. On Friday the conference will be addressed by Victoria Challacombe of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the Government's programme for promoting LGBT human rights abroad. - All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk - Register for the TUC's press extranet: a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access pre-embargo releases and reports from the TUC. Visit www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet Contacts: Media enquiries : Press release (600 words) issued 3 Jul 2008 Press release (600 words) issued 3 Jul 2008  Leicester's Alice Hawkins and Votes for Women Midlands TUC International Women's Day Conference Use learning to fight racism in the workplace, says TUC |
|
unionlearn Telephone 020 7079 6920 |
|
