LGBT HISTORY
MONTH
TFTW W/C 1 ST FEB 2016
THIS TERM WE ARE LOOKING
AT BRITISH VALUES
A main focus has been the value of tolerance and
acceptance.
February is LGBT History Month in the UK.
LGBT stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender.
Most people are heterosexual, or “straight”. They are
attracted to the opposite sex and when they grow up they
will probably do the usual thing – set up home with someone
of the opposite gender and have babies.
However, for a large number of people, sexuality is not that
straightforward. Gender and sexuality are usually linked, but
not always. So some men are attracted to other men. Some
women are attracted to other women. Some people are
attracted to both men and women. Some feel that they have
been born with the wrong gender altogether – they might
have the body of a man, but their feelings and their brain are
those of a woman.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT
TO LOOK AT LGBT
ISSUES?
More than half (55 per cent) of lesbian,
gay and bi young people experience
homophobic bullying in Britain's schools
Ninety nine per cent hear the phrases
'that's so gay' or 'you're so gay' in school.
More than half (53 per cent) of lesbian,
gay and bi young people are never taught
anything about lesbian, gay and bi issues at
school.
DO PEOPLE CHOOSE
TO BE GAY?
https://www.truetube.co.uk/film/nature-vs-nurture
It’s all very complicated, and scientists are still
trying to figure out what it all means: what
makes one person gay and another person
straight? No one has a definitive answer, but all
the scientific research is making one thing
increasingly clear: sexuality is not a choice.
People do not choose to be gay or straight or
transgender. Sexuality appears to be decided by
a number of factors, many of which go right
back to how a baby develops in the womb.
WHAT IS
HOMOPHOBIA?
People who dislike, hate or even fear homosexual people are called
“homophobic”. It can be difficult to understand why a person would hate
someone just because they are gay.
Some people are homophobic because, despite the scientific evidence, they
do not agree that people are born homosexual. They would say that
homosexuality is a choice. This might be true for a tiny minority of people who
decide to experiment, but for the vast majority of gay people around the
world, this suggestion is laughable. Why would they choose to live a lifestyle
for which they were going to be discriminated against? What must
homosexual people living in Iran think when they hear that – in the opinion of
some - they have chosen to feel in a way that might lead their execution?
Some people are homophobic because their religions teach that
homosexuality is wrong. This is a tricky one because even
religious people cannot agree. Some would say that
homosexuality is definitely wrong. Some would say that being
homosexual is not wrong, but having a homosexual relationship
is. Some would say that if the relationship is a committed one,
then it’s okay. But whatever someone’s personal beliefs, they are
just that: personal. You can disagree with people, you can
disapprove of what they do, but that never gives you the right to
mistreat them. Anyone who says, “God says it’s okay for me to
treat you unfairly” hasn’t read their holy book very thoroughly.
The simple truth is that most homophobic people are homophobic
because their parents are, and they haven’t learned to think for
themselves yet.
Hopefully, homophobia will eventually become as
unacceptable as racism or sexism, but we all need to keep a
check on our own prejudices to make sure that we are
treated all people as equals. Diversity is the future. It’s
exciting because it brings with it new ideas and changes in
society, but it’s also frightening for some people because
they don’t like change. So we must tread carefully, but
continue to push forwards. Gay people have always been
part of society and always will be, and that is something to
celebrate.
FINALLY
In your planners, on today’s date, write down 3 things you
have discussed during this session.