LGBT history

I live in a city (Vancouver, Canada) which has one of the highest population, proportionately, of LGBT residents in the world. Bigotry, bullying, homophobia, racism, etc, is deemed a "hate crime" here, and people are prosecuted. There is a history in Canada of old wrongs against our Native peoples, especially children, who were taken away from their parents and "educated" in so-called residential schools. The abuse they suffered was terrible, and this generation of Canadians are now involved in reparation, through truth and reconciliation committees. It makes me wonder, will there be similar truth and reconciliation committees in the future for the LGBT community, whose sexual orientation and gender is not a matter of choice, as is skin colour? Let's focus on turning out good, kind people, no matter what their gender or orientation. As grandparents, we need to lead by example.

I agree with daphnedill that The lives of people who suffered hardship or injustice or showed extraordinary bravery are often the topic of assemblies.

This was often the case when I was at school too and quite often the DGC pleasantly surprise me with what they "did" in assembly.

In that case, I don't have any problems with what he said. The curriculum is much more than timetabled lessons. It includes ethos, policies and practice and assemblies, etc etc. The lives of people who suffered hardship or injustice or showed extraordinary bravery are often the topic of assemblies.

Corbyn said included in the school carriculum, what we think he meant or didn't mean doesn't matter ,

By the way, it was as recently as 2003 that Section 28 was repealed. This stated that a local authority "shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality" or "promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship".

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_28

Schools have moved on from then in a relatively short time, although attitudes haven't been entirely eradicated. I'm not claiming the job is done and there's no issue, but we've come a hell of a long way.

I don't assume that people don't give a fig about people's sexuality, but I agree with you that formal lessons won't address any issues. What on earth can a pupil 'learn' in a lesson about LGBT? What needs 'learning' can be summed up in a few minutes. It's the attitudes and understanding which take longer to change, so I think you're right that it needs embedding into a school's ethos. Most schools have pastoral staff and often have access to counsellors. If the school still has a nurse, she can play a role - most school nurses also act as agony aunts.

I do think special provision needs to be made alongside a school's bullying policies and practices. Some schools are much better at it than others. I just don't think 'lessons' are needed or even appropriate - and I don't think that's what Corbyn meant anyway.

The assumption that most people don't give a fig about people's sexuality disregards the fact that there are still examples of young people being disowned by their parents for being gay, of children being bullied at school and of assaults on people who are seen to be "different".

Isn't it more about being inclusive of people who have traditionally been excluded, and showing positive representations re LGBT, rather than formal "lessons".

I think it's easy for people who are not LGBT to say "what's all the fuss about, there's no need to make special provision". But some young people may be confused or embarrassed about their sexual feelings and I think it's important for these issues to be discussed so as to challenge and hopefully dispel prejudice and bullying. Surely it is essential to ensure that young people who are confused or embarassed about their sexuality are not left confused and anxious and having to deal with these feelings on their own.

I don't see how shying away from acknowledging same sex couples or single gays is 'rubbing innocent noses in it'. We don't think twice about talking about heterosexual couples. Young children aren't quite so 'innocent' as we sometimes assume. Even quite young children realise that their parents have sex.

When my younger daughter was in junior school a close friend lived with her mother, sister and the deputy female head of the same school, they rented a two bed roomed house in the town. When the girls were in the high school my daughter said Jenny is moving to one of the big houses which has just been built, she went to the new house, came home said how lovely the house was, Jenny and her sister had a bedroom each , their mother and the deputy head were still sharing a bedroom , i expect they are keeping the fourth for visitors. So sweet. When she was a little older she realised the woman were a couple, no problem. No LGBT history lessons needed

My kids were watching Sky News about 20 years ago and they came running into the kitchen and said 'Aunty Karen is on telly saying 'we're here, we're here, we're here because we're queer'.

'What's queer about Aunty Karen they asked?

'Nothing' I said.

They knew she played football and could explain the offside rule, she rode a motorbike and had a girlfriend, they hadn't though anything of it and we carried on like that.

Why load kids up with the troubles of the world, it is all much of a muchness to them.

Corbyn ought to occupy himself with more pressing matters silly old fool.

Children need to be protected from overt and early sexualisation, not have their poor wee, innocent noses rubbed in it. As with so many things well meaning idiots will pick up the ball and run with it and alleviation of one ill will result in the promotion of another.

A poster chose to bring gay marriage into this Daphne, no idea why ,

Who said it was?

Gay marriage is not compulsory

In that case...we can all sleep happier in our beds.

What else was he supposed to talk about at the pink news awards?
You are both getting silly now.
Perhaps you ought to read the rest of it before criticising any more. What he says is very sensible, although you wouldn't know so from this thread.
Cameron was given his award as well last week.

No, he was in his comfort zone I expect another great (not) idea to burden teachers with.

I agree rosesarered, he wasn't going to get shouted down st the Pink News awards was he

www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/10/27/jeremy-corbyn-without-david-camerons-commitment-equal-marriage-would-not-be-law/

This is what he said. Sounds okay to me. Those who are criticising Corbyn seem to have forgotten that Cameron brought in gay marriage.

Because we didn't attend the same school perhaps Daphne , how would I know why he chose to introduce us to Wilde? Considering we had to learn a poem every week that is a lot of poets over a number of years

I doubt that Corbyn's latest gem will get off the ground ( he has other things to sort out,
Like not having the support of most of the Labour MP's.)It was just a speech that will be forgotten.

To GSCE level Daphne ?

As a matter of interest, why were you taught about Oscar Wilde? I'm pretty sure I wasn't.

Going back to the last page to answer anniebach's question about bullying. Yes, bullying is part of the personal and social education curriculum, including homophobic bullying.