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Gay/Transgender/Straight (queer) Groups in Schools

We recommend that your group has an educational focus regarding positive queer identity but that meetings should be light hearted, fun and inclusive of all students. I imagine that each meeting will go quite quickly. However, if you can facilitate team building exercises before each educational focus then that will contribute to cohesive, safe and welcoming environment. A good goal to have is for groups to build a sense of community and acceptance of diversity within the school.

Rainbow Youth is here to support your school. Therefore, please do not hesitate to contact us if you need facilitators, resources or workshops but we emphasize your group will run at it’s best when it is a joint effort. this means that it is not run off the energy and enthusiasm of any one teacher or student and is as much a part of the school fibre as other teams and clubs. As it is a school community project, we advocate for the group to be aligned with other school activity groups.

Why have queer straight alliance groups?

All students need a safe learning environment to thrive. Legally the adolescent is protected by the United Charter of Rights for Children which states that “ every child has the right to an education and the right to be safe”. Section 60 of the Education Act 1989, directs that schools ensure that their pupils are safe emotionally and physically. Schools are also required to analyze in what ways students are not safe and in what ways students are inhibited from learning (United Nations, 1989 as cited in Sullivan,2000).

For more info about this contact, Judy Alison from Post Primary Teachers Association jalison@ppta.org.nz to obtain a booklet called ‘Affirming Diversity of Sexualities in the School Community’

Practical Ideas for running a group

And these are merely ideas…. your own creativity and knowledge of your students and the culture of your school should guide your practice. We hope that the existence of a group of this kind will help to create a society in which all Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Takataapui and Fa’afafine young people feel cherished and supported.

Group name ideas

It’s helpful to have a group name that is positive e.g.
ShOUT, Diversity, Navigate, INknowVate, INclusive, Quest, Affirmation, Pride etc

It’s a good idea for you guys (students) to choose a name together as a group, as well as working out a good time to meet, e.g. lunchtime or after school.
It is very important to have a space that is safe and accessible to everyone, and to
also work out a contract, and keep a copy of it.

Workshops

These can have an educational focus as well as being fun and uplifting

Workshop Ideas (Rainbow Youth can facilitate workshops or supply information if needed but utilize the skills, knowledge and experience from the people in your group). get as many people involved as possible. Perhaps at the start of the group plan the terms meetings.

• Historical Perspective: Yay, we have always been around
• Stages of Homosexual Identity
• Understanding Sexual Continuum
• Managing Your Coming Out
• Heterosexism & Homophobia
• Building Self Esteem & Self Care
• Understanding Gender Identity
• How to be a drag king/queen!
• Meeting People on the Internet
• What a healthy relationship looks like

• When did they first start to question their sexuality?
• How did they feel? Who did they tell?
• What is hard about coming out?
• What makes it easier to be who they are?

Another idea for a meeting

Poster or Rainbow Flag Party – raise visibility of your group. Educational Focus – explain that one of the contributing factors to struggling with homosexual identity or gender difference is the lack of visibility and that people who are transgender or attracted to the same-sex, exist. Affirm that this is changing in society. One way to increase awareness of same-sex attraction and gender difference is by the medium of posters and international queer symbols like the rainbow flag. Discuss ways in which TV, Music Videos, Films, and Magazines have helped reduce marginalisation.

Activity: group members design posters, make rainbow banners and/or arrange for posters to be delivered from an agency– display around school

Follow up poster party the following session with small group discussion on how people felt about displaying posters. Follow on with workshop on Stages of Homosexual Identity or Effects of Internal & External Homophobia effects self-esteem (how is the group working to provide a safe environment for gay, lesbian, bisexual, takataapui, transgender and fa'afafine youth in your school?) Keep in mind some students may want to come to the group but still do not feel comfortable to do so.

Other ideas

Discussion Ideas

• How people feel about terminology like ‘queer’ ‘dyke’
• How do people see the future for gay, lesbian, bisexual, takataapui, transgender and fa'afafine people?
• In what ways can your group get involved in politics with regard to lobbying for legislation changes
• Discuss other world issues or stuff that interests you guys- it doesn’t always have to be queer focus – but important to remember it is safe place for queers and their friends
• Write articles for the Rainbow Youth website
• Plan special events with other high school queer/straight groups
• Find out when Rainbow Youth has Generation Q. plan to go together as a group
• Queer pop quiz
• Invite Queer Nation to do a story on your schools queer/straight social group or on you as individuals.
  Make sure you get your Principals permission.

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