LGBTQ+ Education and Pride

As the Fair Education Alliance we work towards tackling inequalities in the education system, with a key focus being that well-being is placed at the heart of every child’s education. We believe that this cannot be achieved if we do not champion LGBTQ+ causes within education. 

It has not always been possible for LGBTQ+ topics to be included in teaching. From 1988 to 2003 the highly controversial piece of legislation - Section 28 - was in place, which was brought in to “prohibit the promotion of homosexuality” by local authorities and in British schools.

In practise, the clause meant that teachers were prohibited from discussing even the possibility of same-sex relationships with students, and as a result teachers often felt that they could not intervene when homophobic bullying took place. Unfortunately more than 15 years on homophobic bullying still takes place in schools with almost half of all LGBT pupils still face bullying at school for being LGBT. 

Aside from LGBTQ+ inclusion in education, there is a lot of intersection between LGBTQ+ identity and social inequality as whole in society:

  • Homelesness: LGBTQ+ young people are more likely to find themselves homeless than their non LGBTQ+ peers, 24% of the youth homeless population identify as LGBTQ+, whereas LGBTQ+ young make up less than 5% of the youth population across the country.

  • Mental Health:  LGBTQ+ young people are disproportionately affected by mental health problems. 

  • Suicide: LGB youth are almost five times as likely to have attempted suicide compared to heterosexual youth and more than two in five trans young people have tried to take their own life

  • NEET: Family rejection, bullying, and a lack of tailored support are increasing the risk of LGBTQ+ young people becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). CfEY discusses the issue here. 

Welfare and equality for LGBTQ+ people cannot be achieved without the support, acceptance, and activism of parents, families, friends, teachers, and the government.

Below we have included a list of LGBTQ+ resources:

🏳️‍🌈 Resources: 

LGBTQ+ Reading:

Pride:

Support:

LGBTQ+ Entrepreneurs: 

Teachers & Schools:

LGBTQ+ in the classroom:

The History of Pride:

Intersectionality: 


LGBTQ+ news: 

Events: