May 17th is IDAHOBIT, which is the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia and Intersex-phobia.
Even with many students doing remote learning, there are still lots of great ways that schools can make use of the opportunity to show their support for LGBTQIA+ students, families and teachers, and to revisit important discussions around embracing and respecting diversity and reducing bias-based bullying.
Parents, we need YOU!!
When it comes to schools supporting rainbow students, families and teachers, the more voices asking for positive change the better. There are lots of different ways that you could raise awareness of IDAHOBIT in your school community.
Let teachers and/or school leadership know that you would like the school to participate.
Send a quick email asking them to take the opportunity of IDAHOBIT to show their support. Here is a sample letter, from which you can cut and paste, or send in its entirety.
Make your allyship visible, and help create support by talking about it to other parents, friends and family.
Change your social media profile pics and cover photos to one of these beautiful ones (from idahobit.org.au).
Change your Zoom or videoconferencing backgrounds to one of these awesome ones (from idahobit.org.au).
Forward this page in a Facebook post to your friends, and social media groups.
Post your support for IDAHOBIT on the school's parents' Facebook group, and invite other parents to email or talk to the school about participation (the more parents who request this, the more likely it is to happen).
Teachers - use your networks to send info to other teachers via email or social media, suggesting they invite their own schools to participate. And how about sending it to your union and other professional groups so they can publicise it?
Talk to your kids about IDAHOBIT.
Talking to your kids about respect for sexual and gender diversity, and about homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and intersex-phobia is really important. And can also be a bit daunting, with parents not sure where to start or worrying they will say the wrong thing. TV, movies and books can be a great way to start these vital conversations.
First Day, is a 4-part tv miniseries by ABCME, and is currently available on ABC iview. It is about a transgender schoolgirl, played by trans actor and activist, Evie McDonald, and it introduces wide audience to the issues faced by trans students, in a very engaging way. In under 5 minutes, you can share it on your wall, in your school’s social media groups, and any other places parents will see it. Why not email the link to your child’s teacher or the principal? This will have a massive impact. If you’re also a teacher, then consider sharing where other teachers will see it.
Queer Kid Stuff is a website and Youtube channel with videos for all ages on LGBTQIA+ and social activism. Very entertaining, and each only a few minutes long, the videos is a great way to introduce kids to new concepts.
Check out our Resources page, for lots more suggested resources, including books, posters and videos.
For general information about talking to children and young people about sexuality, nothing beats Vanessa Hamilton’s website, Talking the Talk Sexuality and Health Information website.