The Safe Schools Coalition Australia (SSCA) have released a guide for teachers and school administrators to help facilitate inclusive formals for all students.
‘Guide to Hosting Inclusive School Formals’ provides simple advice and steps to take before, during and after formals to ensure the event is welcoming to LGBTQIA+ students.
Australia’s National Program Director for the Safe Schools Coalition Sally Richardson says that events like formals and school dances can be a source of anxiety or fear for same sex attracted, intersex and gender diverse students.
“Schools formals, deb balls and school dances can be an exciting time for senior students,” Ms Richardson says, “but unfortunately for same sex, intersex and gender diverse students this isn’t always the case.”
“Events like these may have policies around what people can wear and who they can bring as a partner which may make gender diverse or same sex students feel uncomfortable or unwilling to participate.”
Ms Richardson says that the SCAA put together this guide so that schools have a place to seek simple and practical advice.
“In line with all the work we do at SCAA, we want to ensure formals and other significant school events are something to look forward to rather than a source of anxiety.”
The guide includes guides to ensure planning committees consider inclusivity, for reassessing existing policies on acceptable ‘dates’ and clothing and to provide school staff and chaperones with appropriate knowledge so they do not unwittingly make someone uncomfortable.
The full guide is available online at www.safeschoolscoalition.org.au
Well at least we can lead in that department, even if we are running way behind the rest of the world in Same Sex Marriage…………..