Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans History Month takes place every year in February. It celebrates the lives and achievements of the LGBT community.
Homophobia is the irrational hatred, intolerance, and fear of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people. Transphobia refers to various kinds of aversions towards transsexuality and transsexual or transgendered people. Most often it takes the form of a refusal to accept a person’s new gender expression.
In 2012 the LGBT Month theme is ‘homophobia in sport’. Ordinarily sporting events are an enjoyable part of our everyday life and leisure activities, but they are also often the source of homophobic and transphobic abuse and hatred.
A Home Office supported survey in 2011, revealed that almost 70 per cent of parents are concerned about their children hearing homophobic abuse at sporting events and most would take action to tackle the issue. On Monday 14 March 2011 the government, together with major sporting bodies, launched a Charter calling for anyone and everyone with an interest or involvement in sport to unite in a common cause to tackle homophobia and transphobia in sport.
Stonewall’s 2007 research The School Report found that almost two thirds of lesbian, gay and bisexual young people experience homophobic bullying in Britain’s schools and 98 per cent hear phrases like ‘That’s so gay’ or ‘You’re so gay’. In Stonewall’s 2009 research The Teachers’ Report school staff say that homophobic bullying is the most frequent form of bullying after bullying because of weight.
A recent study by Eleanor Formby in South Yorkshire concluded that, ‘There is still so much more to do to ensure that LGBT young people can live fulfilled, safe and happy lives in which they are able to be open and engaged with the communities in which they live. …. It is simply not acceptable that young LGBT people should continue to experience much of the abuse, which is outlined in this report.
At tpm we are committed to embracing the diversity of our society. We encourage everyone to celebrate difference and to reflect this in everything that we do. Our staff and learners are offered awareness raising opportunities throughout their employment or course studies. Our Zero-Tolerance Promise clearly communicates our stand against all forms of bullying and compulsory Equality and Diversity Training, underpins the commitment required of all staff and learners to making our learning-environment a safe place by being respectful and sensitive to others identity, self-expression, needs, traditions, religion and culture.
Rugby’s Gareth Thomas and Swedish football’s Anton Hysen recently disclosed that they are gay, as have a number of other sports people around the world; this has led some to argue that the professional sporting arena is now a place where lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender sportspeople can participate and enjoy the same freedoms as everyone else. What do you think, as we enter the 8th year of LGBT Month and the run up to the 2012 London Olympics is there LGBT equality in sport?
What are your opinions of the hatred and abuse aimed at our LGBT community? Have you ever witnessed or experienced homophobia or transphobia at school in sport or at work? Who did you speak to about it? What more should we be doing to stop bullying of this nature and how should the Government bring an end to it?
Stonewall is a charity that campaigns for the rights and equality of gay, lesbian and bisexual people.
SPEAK OUT is a survey for young people in England, Scotland and Wales who are aged 11 to 19 and who are lesbian, gay or bisexual (or think they might be). The survey is about your experiences in school or college.
Press For Change (PFC) is one of the largest representative organisations for trans people in the UK.
Eleanor Formby with Ben Ellis, 2011, Tackling homophobia and transphobia in setting supporting young people: what are the barriers and facilitators? Findings from a South Yorkshire study.
