I teach as an openly gay man at a Manchester High School, in my first six weeks there I came out to a year 8 class where I had witnessed verbal and physical homophobia and embryonic queer bashing. Later some of the students knocked on my door with either a sweet or a piece of work or simply to ask if I was ok? None of them mentioned the outing. They didn't need to. A tiny step had been taken.
Three years later, I still challenge homophobia in the classroom and on the corridor, but now I am regularly asked by students in a sincere way about my experiences as an out gay man. I don't underestimate the potential difficulties I may meet from the parents of such children, but I am an optimist. A gay Jew born in the same year of Hitler's death has to be. Throughout my time at School I've had amazing from the head and the Senior Management Team, in fact I made it a condition of my employment at the school that I taught as an open gay man.
-- A man named Brian
Comments (3)
This is amazing. We need to challenge homophobia, biphonia, transphobia etc in all schools!
I teach as an openly gay man as well! So I can really relate to what your talking about here!
Thats amazing