Anti-Homophobia Material works: Parents

Anti-Homophobia Material works: Parents

Homophobic bullying is less prevalent in the public school system because of the success of early anti-homophobia programs, the NSW bullying inquiry heard last week.

NSW Federation of Parents and Citizens Association spokeswoman Sharon Johnson said the issue had become flavoursome, even a cliche, in public education.

We have embraced the anti-homophobic slant and we do it successfully, she said.

One of the minimal amounts of bullying that occurs in the public education system in NSW would be for sexuality.

At the primary school level Johnson pointed to the anti-homophobia conferences and books such as the Learn To Include series for demystifying different family structures.

We have written that it is nana, it is mum, it is dad, it is conventional or it is two mums or two dads, Johnson said.

That has discreetly placed itself well into our schools and children are now well-placed to see that families come in all different shapes and sizes and can be celebrated regardless of that.

Harmony Day and Ourselves Day were now celebrated in public primary schools alongside Mother’s and Father’s Days, she said.

I think it becomes intrinsic that we are doing that pretty successfully. There is always room for improvement, though.

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One response to “Anti-Homophobia Material works: Parents”

  1. rubbish!Sharon Johnson is kidding herself. Homophobia is not addressed widely in NSW public schools. Policy is weak and not enforced. Some good programs and resources are out ther, but not widely used.