|
|
|
|
"The first school in Britain for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people could open its doors within the next three years. Based in the centre of Manchester, the specialist state school plans to take 40 full-time students from across the area and will offer up to 20 part-time places for young people who want to continue attending a mainstream school."This is about saving lives," said Amelia Lee, strategic director for LGBT Youth North West, the youth work charity behind the plans. "Despite the laws that claim to protect gay people from homophobic bullying, the truth is that in schools especially, bullying is still incredibly common and causes young people to feel isolated and alienated, which often leads to truanting and, in the worst-case scenarios, to suicide.""
article continues at http://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/jan/16/school-for- lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-pupils-manchester
The intentions are of course laudable. But on the whole I'm not in favour. Sexuality is by no means the only reason kids get bullied (it wasn't the reason that I was bullied horrendously at the ages of 12 and 13). And LGBT kids can be bullies themselves (one of my persecutors, now dead, was gay), so by itself segregating gay kids won't stop bullying. And previous tormentors may continue to bully, through social media, of course.
And I think that shuffling gay kids off somewhere special will do nothing to help straight kids see being gay as normal. The history of "separate but equal" is an unpleasant and bloody one!
For me, the answer lies in ensuring that ALL schools work hard to make an abhorrence of bullying a part of the general atmosphere and ethos of the school. Bullying stands far less chance of success if bystanders realise that turning a blind eye makes them complicit in the bullying, and refuse to stand by idly. The effects of bullying are far less if kids feel that they have access to completely non-judgemental and supportive adults on a routine basis.
Yes, that costs money, and takes both willingness and time. But, in my opinion, it's the only thing that will work - not just for LGBT kids, but for all kids who are vulnerable for whatever reason.
What do others think?
"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. ... Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night devoid of stars." Martin Luther King
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
timmy
|
 |
Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13773
|
|
|
I agree with you completely, NW. Nothing to add.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ChrisR
|
 |
Likes it here |
Location: Western US
Registered: October 2014
Messages: 136
|
|
|
There was a day when "separate but equal" was the law of the land in The States to keep the blacks and whites segregated. It never worked. So they decided to integrate the schools instead. It hasn't been particularly successful either.
Racism, sexism, hair-color-ism, whatever it is that makes people different seems to float to the top of human relationships all the time. There will always be bullying as part of the human condition. At a gay school there will still be jocks, nerds, freaks, attractive, ugly... well maybe the theater folks won't have it so bad. But it's not going to be a whole lot easier. I wouldn't be surprised to see the whole school trashed on occasion.
Will having the school name on a university application not also telegraph something that might not be any of their business? Just wondering.
But on the other hand, I pray fervently that I'm completely wrong.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
timmy
|
|
Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13773
|
|
|
Quote:ChrisR wrote on Sat, 17 January 2015 05:12There was a day when "separate but equal" was the law of the land in The States to keep the blacks and whites segregated. It never worked. So they decided to integrate the schools instead. It hasn't been particularly successful either.
Racism, sexism, hair-color-ism, whatever it is that makes people different seems to float to the top of human relationships all the time. There will always be bullying as part of the human condition. At a gay school there will still be jocks, nerds, freaks, attractive, ugly... well maybe the theater folks won't have it so bad. But it's not going to be a whole lot easier. I wouldn't be surprised to see the whole school trashed on occasion.
Will having the school name on a university application not also telegraph something that might not be any of their business? Just wondering.
But on the other hand, I pray fervently that I'm completely wrong.
--
And, while we may not discriminate here in the UK, on job applications folk may just never make it to the interview stage. Or, when it gets passed to the HR folk in head office for ratification, that nation may not be civilised, and the candidate may be eliminated.
This is not a good idea at all
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The only clear, and practicable, reason for providing separate facilities based upon LGBTQ norms would be along the lines of the many that have been established over the years for "specialty" streams such as the Arts or Technical students; unfortunately, I simply cannot see enough relevant LGBTQ-driven content available across, say five academic years spread over a dozen subject disciplines. Wouldn't work; therefore, the singular reason for their adoption must be segregation, and that's not good enough, bullying and other harassment not-with-standing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Boysarefree
|
 |
Getting started |
Location: united kingdom
Registered: November 2017
Messages: 5
|
|
|
THe people who are not lgbt will target the children who go to the School. They might as well put a sign on the forheads announcing I amgay bi lesbian. Bad idea. It sounds good in the ideal world, but the world we live in here in reality i say no to protect them
|
|
|
|
|
Goto Forum:
|
] 
A Place of Safety
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
