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Sexuality

• Issues
• Communities speak
• Challenges
• Resources

Issues

Schools need to deal with bullying, harassment and violence against students who either identify themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual or who are perceived to be so. The issues surrounding harassment based on sexuality are closely related to those around gender.

The silence that surrounds issues of homosexuality and homophobia in schools means that little is done in organisation, teaching practice, culture or curriculum to challenge homophobic violence. Schools are not safe places for gay, lesbian or bisexual students. They may be verbally and physically harassed at school and physically assaulted as they travel to and from school.

School staff often refuse to engage with the issues. Suicide, mental illness and homelessness rates among students identifying as gay, lesbian or bisexual are high, while their school retention rates are low.

Communities speak

"I guess some teachers in some ways condone homophobia. An example I can think of is when students associate the word
gay with stupid or crap … 'this sucks', 'this is gay' and the
teacher does not say anything. They are condoning it."

...Student Year 11

"It is not just gay students who suffer from homophobia. I have a son who was harassed for being gay. He wasn't gay but the
connotations were because he liked certain subjects
he was harassed. It really had a long-term
effect on him as an adult."

...Parent

"When I came out in Year 8, I knew it wouldn't be easy. Jim, my close friend didn't seem to care, but lots of boys in my year threw wet
paper towels at me in the toilets, made snide gestures in
class, and shoved me around. I could hack most of it,
but the day I was held down by 3 boys – including
Jim – that was the pits. Afterwards Jim was
really upset – not only about what had
happened to me but because he
had joined in to stop the
harassment he was
getting for hanging
around with me.
A year later he's
still saying sorry."

...Chris, Year 9

Challenges

School communities need to:

• address the issues of sexuality as human rights and social justice issues through professional development forums
• access and provide resources that assist teachers and students to deal with and to understand gender-based violence and issues of sexuality
• establish links with gay and lesbian communities and their support materials
• encourage school counsellors to work proactively with staff and students to combat homophobia as a student welfare issue
• develop an anti-homophobic element in the curriculum
• be familiar with relevant state legislation and policies.

Resources

• Catching On-line
  http://www.education.vic.gov.au/studentlearning/teachingresource/ health/sexuality/default.htm
  Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Victoria
  

  This website provides a range of learning and teaching resources to support a comprehensive, whole-school learning approach to sexuality education.

• Just kidding? Sex-based harassment at school
  Alloway, N. (2000)
  Ryde, NSW: New South Wales Department of Education and Training

This 107-page text for educators and carers focuses only on sex-based harassment among students. The book examines the behaviours through scenarios, explores social justice, equity and legal aspects; looks at how our talk and practice of gender relations every day makes sex-based harassment 'normal'; showcases projects in New South Wales schools; and provides ideas for eliminating the behaviour.

• Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy Support Materials: Understanding sexual diversity
  http://www.education.tas.gov.au/school/health/inclusive/
  antidiscrimination/ understanding-sexual-diversity
  Department of Education Tasmania.
  
  This information is designed to support teachers and students in understanding sexual diversity. It outlines concepts related to sexual diversity and includes policy information, curriculum ideas and a glossary of key terms.

• Curriculum Planning Guidelines – Same-sex attraction and gender diversity
  http://www.education.vic.gov.au/studentlearning/curriculum/
  preptoyear10/guidelines/phase1/ws/samesex.htm
  Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Victoria
  
  A whole school approach to curriculum planning through a continuous cycle of analysis, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Identifies areas in the curriculum for inclusion of material related to issues of same-sex attraction and gender diversity. 

• Safe Schools are Effective Schools – strategies for responding to homophobic bullying
  http://www.education.vic.gov.au/healthwellbeing/safety/
  bullying/homophobia.htm
  Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Victoria
  
  A whole school approach to providing safe, secure and stimulating environments for all students.

• Understanding sexual diversity
  http://www.education.tas.gov.au/school/educators/health/inclusive/ antidiscrimination/ understanding-sexual-diversity
  Department of Education, Tasmania
  
  Information to support teachers and students in understanding sexual diversity. It outlines concepts related to sexual diversity and includes policy information, curriculum ideas and a glossary of key terms.

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