Tolerance - Anti-homophobia

Lifestyles Homophobia hurts everyone

How Are We Different? • After the video a book entitled It’s Okay to be Different will be read aloud • Have a class discussion on what it means to be different, and how people are different • The students could also write in their journal “What does different mean to you?”

Discussion and Vocabulary • After watching this video ask the students: – – – –

Have you heard these words before? Do you, or anyone you know use these words? Did the video make you feel uncomfortable? Has anyone been called one of these words?

• A list of vocabulary words will then be presented. – Ex. Coming out, Heterosexism, faggot, fairy/flamer, etc.

• In groups the students would then research these words and present their meanings to the class. Students can facilitate discussion about their use, their connotations, their appropriateness etc.

Nature Vs. Nurture • Ask the students what ‘Nature Vs. Nurture’ means: – Are people born gay? – Do they choose to be gay? – Can you be taught to be gay? – As an activity you could have the students research this topic and then have a debate in the classroom

Think Before You Speak! • As a class you would discuss this phrase “that’s so gay” • Ask the students if they, or anyone they know use this phrase? • Do they think it is negative or positive? • Have they actually thought about the implications and meaning of the phrase? • How would they feel if someone used something about them in a negative way?

“That’s so hetero” • Discuss how homophobia affects our lives • As an activity, you could ask the students to go and hold an opposite-sexed friend’s hand, and then after a few minutes, ask them to hold a same-sexed friend’s hand. • Chances are, many students would snicker and not do it. This could be the start of a class discussion on how homophobia affects peoples’ lives. – It dictates how you act and show affection for others as well as many other things.

You ARE Taught to HATE • As a class a discussion on homophobia and hate: – What does homophobia mean? – What is a phobia? – What does everyone think the video is trying to say? – Why do you think people are homophobic? – How can we prevent homophobia?

HATE Crimes • After reviewing the Matthew Shepard and Lawrence King cases the class can discuss how homophobia can lead to hate crimes: – How did the video make them feel? – What’s the difference between a regular crime and a hate crime? – Why do you think people commit hate crimes? – What is a homophobic hate crime? – Why do you think people commit homophobic hate crimes? – How do hate crimes affect the victims’ families?

Homophobia is Gay • As a class you could discuss: – How the video made you feel – How would you feel if you were treated this way? – How can we begin to change our actions? – How can we combat hate?

Help and Support – Don’t be Afraid • www.kidshelpphone.ca – 1-800-668-6868

• www.pflag.org – Parents Friends and Families of Lesbians and Gays. • www.gsani.com - Gay-Straight alliance • Have a final discussion about what students have learned from this unit. • Journal entry- What have you learned from this? Have your assumptions changed? Do you feel differently about homophobia and the use of negative words/phrases?

Videos used in the presentation (not in order) Speak out against hate speech http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTdCa6vbvTk&feature=channel_page

Think Before you Speak Campaign – Wanda Sykes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrJrw5ZZfRU

Think Before you Speak Campaign - Cashier

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEpBYKOs3ys

Think Before you Speak Campaign – Hillary Duff http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVicCD8FmMs

Stop the hate – homophobia can be cover http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxNigxTZr2E&NR=1

Videos used in Presentation (Continued) Norwegian – Gay Help Line Commercial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo8DwISxz0A&feature=related Homophobia is gay http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsFxkWxtGAY Gay parents don’t have gay kids necessarily http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o4YUY4feys&feature=related Tolerance PSA: “Dear Parents” – children talking to parents. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLIW8JWk1RI Dennis Sheppard’s courtroom speech http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkQysLewF4w Homphobia – Gay Youth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCqDEEc_TOw&feature=related