LBGTI+ education forum

The abstract summarizes an LBGTI+ education forum recorded during Wellington's Pride festival at St Andrew's on the Terrace on February 27, 2018. Organized by Rainbow Wellington, the event sought to address education-related issues concerning young people within the LGBTI+ community through personal and organizational perspectives.

The forum featured several speakers with diverse backgrounds and experiences. David Pegram, a long-standing deputy principal at Newlands College, expressed that changes in schools regarding LGBTI+ issues are evident, yet many challenges persist. Pegram described a dichotomy in the experiences of Newlands College students, with positive aspects such as an accepting environment and a supportive diversity group, contrasted with negative experiences like derogatory language, inadequate teacher responses to bullying, and issues with bathrooms and changing rooms.

Kirsty Farrant, the Rainbow coordinator at a union head office, discussed the hurdles schools face in adapting to provide more inclusivity, such as dilemmas regarding uniforms and bathrooms. Farrant mentioned the overwhelming sense among educational institutions that they lack support for these transformations and are reinventing the wheel without much guidance.

Tabby Besley, founder of Inside Out, highlighted the organization's efforts to establish support systems like queer-straight alliances in schools across New Zealand. Besley emphasized the ongoing need for government support for organizations like Inside Out, which significantly contribute to creating safe school environments for LGBTI+ youths.

Josh Espino, founder of a private queer-straight alliance at their former high school, recounted their experience navigating a school environment that was dismissive and corrective of LGBTI+ issues. Espino's initiative aimed to provide a safe space for rainbow youth to support each other amidst a culture of bullying and suppression.

Neo Kenny and Ri Comer, both student leaders of ultraviolet groups at their respective schools, shared their perspectives on fostering inclusivity and pride within their institutions. They touched on the importance of school events that promote loud and visible support for the LGBTI+ community and methods for creating safer spaces in educational settings.

Katy Hodgson, a previous student and current art teacher, conveyed the challenge of balancing one's role as an authority figure with the need to be a supportive ally to LGBTI+ students. The panel discussed the value of allies within educational staff and the influence of visible support from educators on young LGBTI+ individuals.

The forum concluded with an opportunity for attendees to engage in a dialogue with the panelists, raising varied issues from accessible education resources to the integration of inclusive practices in intermediate and primary schools, highlighting the continued need for community support, advocacy, and policy change.

This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.

David Pegram Grant Jones Josh Espino Katy Hodgson Kirsty Farrant Neo Kenny Ri Comer Richard Arnold Tabby Besley

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