Teaching about LGBT families in schools

1. Teaching about LGBT families in schools Civil rights education in the absence of rights: LGBT families in Italian schools Famiglie Arcobaleno, Italy ILGA Europe Annual Conference Zagreb, 24 October 2013

2. Famiglie Arcobaleno: born in 2005 • Exchange and comparisonbetweenparents and would-beparents • Promote a relationshipbetweenchildrenof LGBT families TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL Civilrightseducation in the absence of rights

3. Numbers - 2013 • 800 members • 500 women • 300 men • 260 children TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL Civilrightseducation in the absence of rights

4. Famiglie Arcobaleno today • Advocacytoobtaincivilrights • Promoting the visibilityofsame-sexparentfamilies • Exchange and comparisonbetweenparents and would-beparents • Promote a relationshipbetweenchildrenof LGBT families TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL Civilrightseducation in the absence of rights

5. Rights of LGBT people and couples • No marriage • No civil partnership • No stepchildadoption • No adoption TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL Civilrightseducation in the absence of rights

6. RIGHTS DENIED LEGAL PARENT CO-PARENT PARENTS TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL Civilrightseducation in the absence of rights

7. No rights or obligations for the co-parent • The co-parentcannot • take health care decisions • take leaves from work for family reasons • pick up childrenatschool • vote for or be elected in the schoolcouncil • claimcontactorderafterseparation from partner • The co-parenthas no obligation to • sustainchildreneconomically • assist children • provideeducation TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL Civilrightseducation in the absence of rights

8. No rights for the children • Children have no right to • be supported financially, assisted, educated from the co-parent • be granted contact with the co-parent, in case of separation or death of the legal parent • kinship with the legal parent’s family • Inherit from the co-parent and from her/his family TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL Civilrightseducation in the absence of rights

9. Equality law: necessary but not sufficient What can betrulydonewithoutlaws? TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL Civilrightseducation in the absence of rights

10. How to survive without laws “ How to do miracles with the support of the private law ” cit. Speak to the heart: -everyday life -Institutions -School TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL Civilrightseducation in the absence of rights

11. Working in schools • Starting from the school: FA was born also to help associates to deal with their kids beginning school • Our children’s well-being is highly dependent from the acceptance from peers and from an inclusive educational environment • To make our diversity visible, in a positive way TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL Civilrightseducation in the absence of rights

12. Issues • Homosexuality, LGBT parenting, denied rights • Prejudices and stereotypes on LGBT people and families • The building of one’s sexual and gender identity • Homophobia and bullying • Education to differences. Gender and family roles • Best practice at school TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL Civilrightseducation in the absence of rights

13. Training courses Make prejudice emerge Prejudice decostruction Operative proposals Kindergarten/primary school Intermediate/high schools Universities • introduce the new ‘non-traditional’ families; • deconstruct prejudices and stereotypes against LGBT parenting; • enhance skills to fight social exclusion and discrimination or homophobic bullying; • ameliorate education practice to make them really inclusive of children living in non-traditional families; • stimulate teachers to reflect upon best practice of welcoming and inclusion TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL Civilrightseducation in the absence of rights

14. Methods • thematic modules • focus group • team work, debate, discussion and practice on real school experiences • role playing, communication facilitation techniques • video screening • presentation and discussion of materials for teachers • materials lab, children’s textbooks and literature lab • Forum theatre, theatre shows TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL Civilrightseducation in the absence of rights

15. Some training courses in Italy • The coursesfollowedthreemainlines: • Introduce LGBT families • Fighthomophobia • Fightstereotypes • Support from localinstitutions, collaboration with otherassociations, collaboration with experts and universityprofessors venezia ferrara torino bologna roma TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL Civilrightseducation in the absence of rights

16. Training courses: Bologna • “Same-sex families in Italy – a reality of our times”. • Three days training. Course targeted to pedagogists, educators, personnel of game rooms and documentation centre for children • One day training. Course targeted to educators of kindergarten in the City of Bologna • “Teacher, I have two mums. And I have two dads. Get to know LGBT parenting.” • Course targeted to pedagogists, educators, teachers and school personnel from kindergarten to secondary school. • Both aimed to introduce non-traditional LGBT families, to overcome prejudice and to stimulate inclusion Focus: knowledge TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL Civilrightseducation in the absence of rights

17. Training courses: Bologna • “How many in the house: getting diversity training”. • Equal opportunity and diversity training. Fight stereotypes and their identification in children’s literature • 7 days training with kindergarten and primary school educators Focus: stereotypes TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL Civilrightseducation in the absence of rights

18. Training courses: Ferrara • Courses against homophobia in two technical high schools since 4 years. • 2013: “Educate to family diversity to fight homophobia”, course targeted to kindergarten and primary school teachers, social cooperatives and communities for minors educators. 150 people followed. Focus: homophobia TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL Civilrightseducation in the absence of rights

19. Training course: Torino Look how many parents! 2013: Course for 8 primary schools, conducted with the City Education Services, Famiglie Arcobaleno, Centro Studi Sereno Regis, Coordinamento Torino Pride LGBT • Introduce same-sex parent families to ease the arrival of children of lesbian mothers or gay fathers in primary school, to guarantee that they will be able to adapt to school life and to talk about their families without fearing prejudice. Focus: knowledge TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL Civilrightseducation in the absence of rights

20. Training course: Torino Stop Homophobia, Val di Susa Course targeted to kindergartens, conducted with Coordinamento Torino Pride LGBT Stop Homophobia, Nichelino Course targeted to primary school, conducted with Coordinamento Torino Pride LGBT, 3° edition Focus: homophobia TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL Civilrightseducation in the absence of rights

21. Training course: Roma Training events in kindergarten and schools where there are rainbow children 2011 Two days training course targeted to kindergarten and primary school teachers. 300 people followed. Focus: knowledge TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL Civilrightseducation in the absence of rights

22. Training course: Venezia Get to know LGBT families • 7 days training with kindergarten and primary school educators (60 people) • 4 modules with video screening and role playing on real ‘embarassing’ cases • In collaboration with professors of the Masters in ‘Minors, rights and protection’ of the University of Ferrara Focus: knowledge TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL Civilrightseducation in the absence of rights

23. Lessons learnt • Testimonies create empathy but are not enough. To eradicate homophobic prejudice, interaction is fundamental (role playing, etc). It is important to involve and emotionally activate the participants • The collaboration with university teachers, especially training experts, is very useful and provides the necessary scientific background TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL Civilrightseducation in the absence of rights

24. FA School Workgroup • The groupaims at creatinganarchiveofall training experiencesdone in theseyears (conventions, training courses, events..) • Prepare training and information materialsforteachersregarding LGBT parenting • Provide information and advices to members regarding their children entering the school (relation with teachers, essays to read..), provide support and help todevelopstrategies in criticalmoments TEACHING ABOUT LGBT FAMILIES IN SCHOOL Civilrightseducation in the absence of rights

25. Thank you for your attention! www.famigliearcobaleno.org info@famigliearcobaleno.org ILGA Europe Annual Conference Zagreb, 24 October 2013