Gay & Lesbian Special Interest Group

 
 
The Gay and Lesbian Special Interest Group (SIG) is open to any interested member of the New South Wales Teachers' Federation. It is concerned with Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (GLBTI) issues and how these issues affect teachers and schools.
 
Meetings take place in Sydney, and while it is difficult for members of the SIG across the state to attend these meetings, there are facilities for members outside of Sydney to participate and receive information.
 
The SIG welcomes new members. To join the Gay and Lesbian SIG please contact Federation on ph. (02) 9217 2100 or email glbti@nswtf.org.au
 
Please find links below to resources and sites that you may find useful.
 

GLBTI newsletter

For Teachers

As workers
GLBTI people are legally protected from workplace discrimination, bullying, harassment and vilification. If you are experiencing homophobia, discrimination or harassment contact your local organiser for advice, or alternatively you can call our Communications Room on (02) 9217 2487 or 1300 654 367.
 
DEC
The DEC has a number of documents that aim to deal with homophobia in schools. These can be accessed from the DEC and include the DEC memo regarding Homophobia in schools, the Code of Conduct Policy and its related procedures, the Dignity and Respect in the Workplace Charter, the Complaints Handling Policy and Complaints Handling Guidelines, the Student Welfare Policy, Boys’ and Girls’ Education Strategy and the Anti-bullying Plan for Schools. Additionally, the DEC has announced a pilot program Proud Schools which aims to tackle homophobia in schools.
 
Anti-Discrimination Board
Information on homosexual discrimination can be accessed online or via a factsheet
Transgender discrimination information can be accessed online or via a factsheet. Additionally, Guidelines for employers and service providers regarding transgender discrimination can be accessed on the Anti-Discrimination Board’s website.
 
Australian Human Rights Commission
Information about LGBTI people’s human rights as well as information from projects and publications by the Human Rights Commission are accessible on this part website.
 
Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby
Facts sheets and links are available at this website. The information provided informs people that lesbians and gay men are protected from workplace discrimination, harassment, vilification and unlawful termination by federal and state laws.
 
As educators
NSWTF Library
The Library is available to all Federation members, and has resources related to campaigns, industrial work, equity and professional development issues that are supported by the Federation. The library can be contacted by phone, fax or email with requests for information or to have specific resources posted to members. There are two resource sheets available to assist members in finding relevant resources: Library GLBTI resources for teacher reference and Library GLBTI resources for classroom use.
 
DEC – Curriculum Support  Teaching Sexual Health website supports people to access “Inclusive Education” messages. There is a page that looks at sexual diversity and one that focuses on gender. The site has links to other resources and provides lesson plans and activities for teachers to use in the classroom.
Curriculum support also notes the importance of teaching about sexuality in K-6 on its PDHPE site
 
The NSW Anti-Discrimination Board has some worksheets that support the competitions they run yearly. Topics include diversity, discrimination, bullying and harassment.
 
NAPCAN LOVE BiTES program
This school based program for 14-18yo seeks the prevention of relationship violence. The LOVE BiTES package includes lesson plans on gender deconstruction, sexual harassment and bystander strategies that can complement the PDHPE curriculum
 
Australian Human Rights Commission: rightsEd
The Australian Human Rights Commission’s human rights education resources for teachers – rightsED - aims to help students develop a critical understanding of human rights and responsibilities, as well as developing the attitudes, behaviours and skills to apply them in everyday life.
 
Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society
ARCSHS conducts interdisciplinary sexuality and health research within the context of society and has resources available for school teachers. 
 
Learn to Include
This teacher’s manual is designed to be used in conjunction with the Learn To Include series and assists primary school teachers in teaching and learning about diverse families.
 
Pridentity
Pridentity stands for pride + identity and is an education program to help students become informed about sexuality and sexual diversity, the myths and facts about same-sex attraction and transgender issues, homophobia and bullying, and gender stereotypes.
Developed in 2011, the Pridentity Resource Kit is the culmination of many years of successful in-school workshops focusing on inclusive sexuality education for secondary school students. The Kit is designed for teachers and community workers. It provides lesson plans, activities and links to further resources to support teaching practice that is inclusive, interactive and fun and is linked to Victorian learning outcomes.
 
Safe Schools Coalition Victoria
Safe Schools Coalition Victoria is dedicated to supporting gender and sexual diversity in schools. It aims to reduce homophobia and transphobia in schools and to create learning environments where every student can learn, every teacher can teach, and every family can belong. They have resources available for teachers, families or students and posters are also accessible online.
 
Supporting sexual diversity in schools
There are some tools for accessing and assisting schools to become more supportive of sexual diversity and to promote student wellbeing for everyone. ARCSHS provides a checklist for schools, while Safe Schools Coalition Victoria has published Supporting Sexual Diversity in Schools: A Guide which is available on their website. This is supported by another of their documents Challenging Homophobia in Schools which is also available on their website.
An American resource that can also be helpful in creating safe and inclusive learning environments is GLSEN’s Safe Space Kit which can be downloaded from their website. Other resources for educators are also available from their site.
 

Training
DEC
Curriculum support for PDHPE provides access to courses and workshops. Specifically, the course “Teaching Sexual Health Phase 2: Inclusive Practices” focuses on building the capacity of teachers to provide inclusive sexual health education which caters for diversity in the classroom. It provides strategies for addressing homophobic bullying in schools and boys and girls education strategies.
 
Twenty10
Here And Now is the name of the training package Twenty10 offers. It is available to teachers as well as other professions that cater to young people in their day to day operation.
 
Family Planning
Family Planning provides a number of courses for teachers that are designed for teachers delivering sexual health courses. They also run a course “That’s So Gay” which is one day training specifically designed for teachers, health and youth workers and others who work with young people in addressing homophobia in education settings.
 

Research
Writing Themselves in 3
The third national study on the sexual health and wellbeing of same sex attracted and gender questioning young people. Released in 2010
 
Writing Themselves in again: 6 years on
The second national report (2004) on the sexual health & well-being of same sex attracted young people in Australia.
 
Writing Themselves in
The first national report on the sexual health and wellbeing of same sex attracted young people in Australia in 1998.
 
Just Kidding
A review prepared for the NSW DEC that examines sex-based harassment within the student body.
 
Sexuality Education in Australia in 2011
Research into sexuality education in Australia by Anne Mitchell, Anthony Smith, Marina Carman, Marisa Schlichthorst, Jenny Walsh and Marian Pitts of the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health & Society at La Trobe University.
 
Sexuality Education in Australian Secondary Schools 2010: Results of the 1st National Survey of Australian Secondary Teachers of Sexuality Education
The research from the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health & Society involved nearly 300 secondary school teachers from every jurisdiction in Australia including government, Catholic and independent schools.
 
I can’t wait to leave school so I can get educated
Article from Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli about the absence of education and affirmation in Australian schools in relation to bisexuality (published in Redress, Aug 2011)
 

General GLBTI links and resources
ACON
The Aids Council of NSW (ACON) is NSW's and Australia’s largest community-based gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) health and HIV/AIDS organisation. It promotes the health and wellbeing of the GLBT community and people affected by HIV. It also has regional offices that are listed on their site
 
Thisoz
Thisoz is an online photo gallery where people can help fight discrimination against the GLBTI community and making Australia a place where everyone belongs.
 
same same
Prominent website within the gay and lesbian community in Australia packed with news, features, forums, competitions, photos etc
 

Students wellbeing
Resources:
POSH booklet Outsmarting homophobia
This booklet for young people challenges beliefs and assumptions about same sex attraction and same sex attracted people.
 
Stand Out: Against Homophobia in Schools
This booklet by Victorian groups Minus 18 and Safe Schools Coalition Victoria is a guide for students to challenge homophobia and transphobia in schools. Posters are also available to support the strategies within the booklet, and steps for forming a sexuality and gender diverse group.
 
GQ: Gender Questioning
GQ: Gender Questioning is a resource produced by GLHV in conjunction with the Trans Melbourne Gender Project. It is designed to provide information and support to young people between 16 and 25 who are questioning their gender or supporting someone who is doing so.
 
My Friend is Gay
My Friend is Gay includes information for young people, friends or family members who want to find out more about same sex attraction and how to support friends or family members - produced by the Monash City Council Youth & Family Services, Pride & Diversity Project.
 
Organisations:
Twenty10
Twenty 10 is a community based, non profit state-wide organisation that works with and supports young people of diverse genders, sexes and sexualities, their families and friends.
 
ACON
ACON has facilities that young people may be able to access, or they can approach ACON for information about other relevant organisations. Regional Offices may be able to provide local information for people outside of Sydney
 
The Gender Centre
The Gender Centre is an organisation that develops and provides services and activities to enhance the ability of people with gender issues to make informed choices. The Centre also assists in educating the public and providers about the needs of people with gender issues.
A factsheet for teachers dealing with transgender students can be accessed on their website