LGBT

“It is only ignorance that causes homophobia – once educated attitudes do change”
Elly Barnes

Schools have the power to transform lives and be a driving force to break down social prejudices to create a cohesive society. Over the last 5 years, Elly Barnes, Head of Year and LGBT coordinator at SNS has organized whole school activities in support of Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender history month which happens nationally every February. In this area where many students come from many different cultures and backgrounds, homophobic bullying and the use of the word ‘Gay’ in a derogatory manner had become part of everyday language. Since beginning the work through the curriculum 5 years ago the school has eradicated the use of the word ‘Gay’ along with a decline in homophobic bullying referrals.

This is a direct result of the whole school work that takes place in lessons, assemblies and events across the borough. The work that has been done in the past has caught the attention of many organizations locally and nationally. Elly Barnes has spoken at the TUC, CWU, NUT, SWP conferences and trained staff in and out of the borough. Her work has been featured in the Guardian and other national papers and educational magazines. This year’s LGBT celebrations were the biggest yet as the school worked with outside agencies such as PACE and the Drill Hall.

The LGBT History Month committee, made up of students from SNS, develop events and music performances that highlight the LGBT agenda. Both in school and the local community and recently government offices. These events saw Stoke Newington students performing at the Hackney Assembly Rooms with the Green Door youth project and the Mayor of Hackney, Julies Pipe. This event culminated in leading an event at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office with performances and presentations from our students to mark International Day against Homophobia using the theme of “Tackling Homophobia Abroad begins at Home.”