Big Gay Adventures in Education by Daniel Tomlinson-Gray

Author:Daniel Tomlinson-Gray
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Published: 2020-11-20T00:00:00+00:00

Big gay notes from the editor

We are seeing time and time again the spectre of Section 28 rearing its ugly head. Numerous teachers have been impacted profoundly by it, either as an LGBT+ child in school or as a teacher. The idea that we can gradually overcome this with simple acts of kindness and love is a beautiful one: those small exchanges in the classroom which “usualise” LGBT+ people will have the biggest impact. However, many LGBT+ teachers fear that these exchanges in which they are “outed” will result in a loss of respect from pupils and colleagues.

Bravely “out” from the beginning of his career, Callum’s experience was a positive one like so many others in this collection. We all share with him the sense of relief when we are finally “out”, when the reaction, where it even exists, is good. We also share the fear of it all going horribly wrong.

Callum writes about his naturally inquisitive students, “the class was just beginning and they were curious, being inquisitive year nines, as to whether myself and a female colleague of mine were in a relationship”. Be honest, how many LGBT+ colleagues have “played along” when assumptions have been made about their heterosexuality in order to feel safer, particularly in the early part of their career? In my Newly Qualified Teacher year, I was in a very close friendship with a female colleague. Gossip was rife amongst students about us being in a relationship. We danced together at prom and let them think what they wanted …

Callum writes, “the idea that a deeply closeted child has the opportunity to see, in ‘the real world’, a successful and positive role model always filled me with optimism”. Young people have a love of learning and will often ask questions. As a visible LGBT+ role model, it is so important not to miss opportunities to answer these questions. Students should not fear asking them and teachers should not fear answering them. With each honest answer, each small act of kindness, we move closer to being our authentic selves and making our schools genuinely great places for our LGBT+ young people.

Once again, the students in this chapter show themselves to be open-minded, non-judgemental and kind. We as adults can learn a lot from them.

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