The Rainbow Flag award

We have now been awareded the Rainbow Flag award.

The Rainbow flag award has been set up as a framework for schools. The award focuses on positive inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community and it is a whole school inclusive approach that also develops strategies to effectively challenge phobic bullying.

This supports our pupils by:

• Providing an awareness that people live their lives in different ways;

• Acknowledging and educating that it is usual to have different families of different dynamics;

• Acknowledging and educating that it is usual to be straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans;

• Having an awareness that if we use these terms in a negative way, it can hurt people’s feelings;

• Avoiding the prejudiced use of stereotypes;

• Confidence and reassurance to be who they want to be

As a school we will:

• Empower our pupils to feel safe and respected in our school community;

• Educate them in how to keep safe and what steps they need to take if they feel unsafe;

• Specifically combat LGBTQ+ phobia through education and practise;

• Actively challenge all discrimination (racist, sexist, homophobic, biphobic, transphobic or otherwise), harassment or bullying;

• Adopt an inclusive approach to all minority groups in our policies.

LGBTQ+ Helplines and Support

LGBT Foundation  0345 330 3030 - https://lgbt.foundation/

Switchboard 0300 330 0630 - https://switchboard.lgbt/

The Proud Trust - https://www.theproudtrust.org/

Mermaids - https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/

Ambitious about Autism  https://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/what-we-do/awareness/inclusion/lgbtq

LGBT Awareness Dates 

Feb. - LGBT History Month (UK) (Started 2005)

LGBT History Month is a month-long annual observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender history and the history of gay rights and related civil rights movements. In the United Kingdom, it is observed during February to coincide with a major celebration of the 2005 abolition of Section 28.

https://lgbtplushistorymonth.co.uk/resources/for-parents/

March 31 - International Transgender Visibility Day

The event was created by transgender activist, Rachel Crandall Crocker of Michigan in 2009 as a reation to the lack of LGBTQ+ recognition of transgender people.

May 17 - International Day Against Homophobia

May 17, or the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO or IDAHOT or IDAHOBiT), as it is widely recognized, is an essential feature in the international LGBT rights calendar. In the 9th edition, in 2013, commemorations took place in almost 120 countries in all world regions. The day aims to coordinate international events that raise awareness of LGBT rights violations and stimulate interest in LGBT rights work worldwide. IDAHO's date was chosen to commemorate the decision to remove homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1990. The International Day Against Homophobia (or "IDAHO") established the IDAHO Committee to coordinate grassroots actions in different countries, promote the day, and lobby for the official recognition of May 17.

https://www.familylives.org.uk/advice/bullying/general-advice/what-is-homophobic-bullying

June - Pride Month

June is celebrated as Pride in honor of the Stonewall Riots, though Pride events occur all year round. Gay pride, or LGBT pride, is the positive stance against discrimination and violence toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people to promote their self-affirmation, dignity, equality rights, increase their visibility as a social group, build community, and celebrate sexual diversity and gender variance.

We look forward to seeing you all our our own Pride festival on Friday 28th June 2024.