International Day Against Homophobia Transphobia and Biphobia TH

International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia TH 17 MAY

What do we mean by Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia? Type of prejudice and discrimination similar to racism and sexism where victims experience harassment, bullying, and violence due to their gender and sexual identity and or sexual orientation

What is LGBT+? • Lesbian - A woman attracted to people of the same gender • Gay – A person attracted to people of the same gender • Bisexual – A person attracted to people of any sex or gender identity • Transgender – A person whose gender is different to the one assigned/assumed at birth • + - Inclusive of other groups, referring to people who identify as another gender identity or sexuality not sated above

The flag’s 6 colours represent different aspects of LGBT communities, but the rainbow is also a symbolic representation of the variety of human expression with all its shades.

Discrimination! • All People are born FREE and EQUAL • This is the first and most important Human right! • So why are LGBT people so often discriminated against?

Homophobia, biphobia and transphobia affects everyone as discrimination tends to. . . • Discourage certain people from being friends with LGBT people • Encourage people to hide the LGBT reality from close friends and family members • Undermine the efforts of those who are committed to equality

Around the world… There are still at least 78 countries with anti-gay laws 226 murders of Trans people were reported last year. Thousands more go unreported. Over 1500 people have been killed in transphobic hate crimes in the last 6 years worldwide

How LGBT students feel • 64% of trans students are bullied for being Transgender • 52% of LGBT students hear homophobic language frequently or often at school • 9% of trans students are subjected to death threats at school • 50% of LGBT students who are bullied for being LGBT never tell anyone about the bullying

Homophobic, Transphobic and Biphobic bullying can consist of: • Verbal abuse • Non-verbal abuse • Ignoring or excluding • Physical abuse or attack (or threatening to do this) • Cyberbullying , including via email

So what can WE do? • Choose language that doesn’t offend, demean or devalue others • Be inclusive – make a point of bringing others into your group • Choose friends based on the content of their character, not their colour, race, religion or sexuality!

Become an Ally!

• Become informed about LGBT realities • Take a critical look at your own opinions about LGBT realities • Refrain from presuming the sexual orientation of a person • Demonstrate openness and inclusion towards LGBT people through your language and actions • Never use discriminatory language, even as a joke, and don’t accept it from others. This includes using the word ‘gay’ as an insult or to mean something bad or uncool.

'That's so gay' • The phrases ‘that’s so gay’ and ‘you’re so gay’ are homophobic because they use the word ‘gay’ to mean the same thing as ‘rubbish’ or ‘not as good’. This is offensive to people who are gay and those who care about someone gay like a friend or family member • Often when people say these phrases, they don’t mean to be homophobic and to offend gay people – but gay people really are offended. When gay students hear these phrases all the time in school it’s very likely to put them off telling their friends and anyone else they are gay

What else could you say?

• Respect every persons right to privacy • Ask how a person would like to be referred to and follow their wishes • Think about what you’re saying, if you think it’s offensive, don’t say it! • Don’t ask too many questions, especially not personal ones • Report incidents of bullying, even if they didn’t happen to you