Daniel Tomlinson-Gray - Big Gay Adventures in Education: Supporting LGBT+ Visibility and Inclusion in Schools

Big Gay Adventures in Education is a collection of true stories by out teachers, and students of out teachers, all about their experiences in schools. The book aims to empower LGBT+ teachers to be the role models they needed when they were in school and help all teachers and school leaders to promote LGBT+ visibility and inclusion.

The contributors range from trainee teachers to experienced school leaders and leading figures from the community across the LGBT+ spectrum, as well as LGBT+ students whose lives were improved by having an openly LGBT+ teacher. Each story is accompanied by an editors note reflecting on the contributors experience and the practical implications for schools and teachers in supporting LGBT+ young people and ensuring they feel safe and included in their school communities.

Compiled by the co-founder and director of LGBTed, the inspiring stories in this book are essential reading for LGBT+ teachers and allies. Lets be the role models we needed when we were at school and show our students that they can be successful and happy as an LGBT+ person.

Daniel Tomlinson-Gray is a secondary school Media Studies and English teacher with more than 12 years of experience who has also worked in school leadership. He is the co-founder and director of LGBTed with Hannah Jepson, working with teachers and schools to increase the visibility of authentic LGBT+ role models. He is married to Samuel, with a tabby cat called Missy Misdemeanour and two hens, Edina and Patsy.

First published 2021

by Routledge

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and by Routledge

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Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

2021 selection and editorial matter, Daniel Tomlinson-Gray; individual chapters, the contributors

The right of Daniel Tomlinson-Gray to be identified as the author of the editorial material, and of the authors for their individual chapters, has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

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ISBN: 978-0-367-89421-4 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-367-89422-1 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-01908-4 (ebk)

Typeset in Palatino
by codeMantra

Andrew Moffat MBE

This book will make a valuable contribution to resources for those who want to explore equality in our schools and be reassured they are not alone on that journey. Statistics showing the level of homophobia that exists today in schools are well publicised and demonstrate the need for this book, but it is not only LGBT+ young people who struggle in classrooms; there are lost voices of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and others (LGBT+) teachers and staff, many hiding their identity as they do their jobs every day. This book will provide much needed support for those people but also for staff who do not identify as LGBT+, who are looking to develop inclusive practice in their workplace.

I hope the book will also provide reassurance to young people in school, as they realise LGBT+ people are all around us; yes, some of us teachers are also LGBT+ too! I want young people to question homophobia in their schools and think about the role they can take to reduce it. And there is another world outside education, where inclusive practice needs to be developed. Mental health and well-being are priorities in every workplace today, and this means creating an ethos where everyone feels comfortable about being who they are.

The real strength of this book is that it gives a voice to real stories by real people. In years to come we will look back on this time and be shocked at the level of homophobia that was allowed to exist in schools in 2020. It is my hope that this book will contribute to a reduction in the taboo and stigma that currently exists around teachers coming out in schools; we should be out wherever we are, wherever we work, as we are in every other part of our lives.

I am full of confidence and hope for the future of inclusive practice in schools, and I am proud to be asked to write the foreword for this book, which I am sure will provide much needed support to teachers who want to make a difference.

With thanks,

Andrew Moffat, MBE

www.no-outsiders.com

Daniel Tomlinson-Gray

Daniel Tomlinson-Gray is a secondary school Media Studies and English teacher with more than 12 years of experience who has also worked in school leadership. He is now the co-founder and director of LGBTed with Hannah Jepson, working with teachers and school leaders to increase the visibility of authentic LGBT+ role models in schools. He is married to Samuel, has a cat called Missy Misdemeanour and two bantam hens called Edina & Patsy. Follow @LGBTedUK on Twitter.

I did it. After nine years of teaching, I finally came out to my students. It shouldnt be such a big deal in this day and age, but sadly it is.

When I was at secondary school in 1990s Basingstoke, I had a horrendous time. I was subjected to bullying of the most horrific kind from Neanderthal knuckle-scraping lads almost daily. I was tormented for being gay for many years before I even knew that I was they all seemed to know something I didnt and delighted in making my life hell. I had wet toilet roll thrown at me in the changing rooms; I had sandwiches thrown at me from the window of the school bus that I was too terrified to board; I was pushed around, kicked and punched in corridors; I was called names I didnt even understand, but I was never without a sassy comeback. My coping mechanism was to fight back with my vocabulary, to be the cleverest and strongest person I could be, to prove them all wrong. I disrupted the status quo, I was unapologetic and I owned it. Between the private tears and the personal agony, I owned it.

When I raised it with my teachers, in utter desperation, I was told its just something you have to deal with. This was during the time of Section 28, the vile anti-LGBT+ legislation that still leaves a scar in our schools to this day. My school didnt know how and in fact wasnt permitted to deal with it. These days, with hindsight, I say I was never a victim of homophobic bullying. I was subjected to it on a daily basis, but I was never a victim. I have fortunately had the strength of character to overcome it and use it to my advantage, but without positive role models, so many other vulnerable children are less fortunate. All young people should feel safe at school, be encouraged to thrive and be themselves. I wasnt.

I decided to become a teacher to give young people the opportunities I didnt have to make them feel safe and respected. It took a long time, however, to be fully honest about who I am for many reasons. When training to be a teacher more than 12 years ago, in a Catholic school, I was told emphatically that I should not tell students Im gay. It would give them more ammunition, I was told. In hindsight, isnt this kind of comment doing our young people a deep disservice? I think we grossly underestimate them when we assume their reaction wont be positive. It has taken me many years of working with our wonderful young people to know that comments like this do not reflect them. In my experience, they are more open-minded and accepting then many of their parents and many of my former colleagues. Comments like this force teachers and school leaders to stay in the closet and therefore to let down some of our most vulnerable students by not being a visible role model with whom they can identify. I believe lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and others (LGBT+) teachers should lead by example where possible and thats why, as part of LGBT History Month in February 2017, I finally came out to over 1,000 students in assembly.