LGBT+ History Month is all about promoting fairness, equality and diversity and raising awareness of LGBT+ people and culture, now and in the past. It aims to give voice to LGBT+ experiences, celebrate achievements and highlight the challenges people still face today. It is also about helping everyone to learn more about LGBT+ culture and history.
The theme for this year, along with more information about the month, can be found here.
Many articles are relevant to explore when celebrating LGBT+ History Month but this week we will focus on the following:
- Article 2: (non-discrimination) The Convention applies to every child without discrimination, whatever their ethnicity, gender, religion, language, abilities or any other status, whatever they think or say, whatever their family background.
- Article 13: (freedom of expression) Every child must be free to express their thoughts and opinions and to access all kinds of information if it is within the law.
- Article 17 – access to reliable information Every child has the right to reliable information from a variety of sources, and governments should encourage the media to provide information that children can understand. Governments must help protect children from materials that could harm them.
And remember, at the heart of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child are the values of dignity, equality and non-discrimination.
To help us think more critically about these articles, try one or more of the activities below:
Activity 1
Read the story Elmer the Elephant, you can also watch it here. Elmer didn’t feel that he wanted to be the same as the other elephants. Think of ways that we can celebrate our differences like the elephants do on ‘Elmer Day’ – talk about your ideas with an adult.
Activity 2
It is important to be proud of who we are. Make a ‘Proud To Be Me’ fact sheet or poster. You might want to include your favourite foods, colours, activities, or places you like to go. Think about what things you’ve included that make you unique and proud to be you.
Activity 3
Watch this story about the history of the Pride Flag. The Pride Flag is a symbol of inclusion and diversity. Look up these two words and think about the link with rights such as Article 2 –
non-discrimination. Write a poem about all these ideas called Rainbows and Rights or design a rights respecting inclusive flag, explaining what each colour and symbol means to you.
Activity 4
Watch this trailer for the film Happily Ever After based on the story ‘King and ‘King’.
How was this story different and similar to stories you have seen or read before. Discuss with a friend why it’s important to read stories that explore the diversity of people that exist in our world.
Activity 5
We often hear the phrase, “Treat others as you would like to be treated.” What do you think about this idea? Are there times, when perhaps we should treat people as they would like to be treated? Can we really know what it is like to be in someone else’s shoes when our experiences are often so very different? Can you write a reflection to share with your class?
