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Frequently ASKED QUESTIONS
what does LGBTQ+ stand for?
LGBTQ+ means lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer - the plus sign indicates the other gender identities and sexualities often included within this community, such as pansexual, asexual, non-binary and genderfluid. There are loads of different variations of the acronym, but LGBTQ+ is the one I use the most!
Isn't the word queer an insult?
Queer was historically used as a slur against LGBTQ+ people, but has been reclaimed by many LGBTQ+ people as a word they use for themselves. Context is key here - if someone says they identity as queer, that's great! If someone is shouting the word at someone in the street, that's obviously not great.
Why is this kind of training important?
Anti-LGBTQ+ bullying is still rife in schools and colleges - according to the charity Stonewall and their 2017 Schools Report, almost half of all LGBT pupils still face bullying at school for being LGBT, and more than two in five trans young people have tried to take their own life. We also know that there are some alarming statistics about the experiences of LGBTQ+ adults in the workplace, and the UK Government's own National LGBT Survey recently found that, amongst other things, 68% of LGBTQ+ people said they had avoided holding hands in public with a same-sex partner for fear of a negative reaction from others.
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We all need to be doing more to encourage understanding of LGBTQ+ identities, and create a better, more inclusive world where everyone can be themselves without fear or shame.
What age groups are your school workshops suitable for?
Quite simply - they're suitable for absolutely any age group. A typical Key Stage One workshop would look at using some age-appropriate story books such as "And Tango Makes Three", "King and King" or "Julian is a Mermaid", and activities looking at difference and different families. That would look very different to a workshop for a Year Ten group, which would feature a look at LGBTQ+ identities and terminology and talk about the impact of bullying and hate crime.
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The new Relationships and Sex Education curriculum in schools in England came into force in 2020, but I know that for some schools, teaching children and young people about LGBTQ+ topics or about different families might be a brand-new concept. Let me help!