‘Straight Talk’ – launch of homophobic bullying report
Friday 19 May

Pictured (from l. to r.) Gerry McNamara of DCU’s School of Education Studies, Mr Niall Crowley, CEO of the Equality Authority,James Norman and Miriam Galvin

A new book, ‘Straight Talk: Researching Gay and Lesbian Issues in the School Curriculm’ was today launched by Mr Niall Crowley, CEO of the Equality Authority. The book was written James Norman, Miriam Galvin and Gerry McNamara of DCU’s School of Education Studies.

The book arises out of two years of research in which the authors surveyed over 700 teachers in every second-level school and interviewed pupils, parents, teachers and senior management teams in a number of schools in the Greater Dublin Area.

The findings of the research show that:

• - homophobic bullying is a common experience in schools
• - most teachers do not deal with sexuality education in the context of gay and lesbian issues.
• - HIV/AIDS education is not covered adequately in most schools
• - schools are not providing adequate policies and procedures to protect young people from discrimination and homophobic bulling.

Launching the book, Niall Crowley commented on the importance of the research in highlighting the need to protect all young people from discrimination in schools especially those affected by homophobic bullying. “’Straight Talk’ presents a disturbing and unacceptable picture of the experience of gay and lesbian students in secondary schools. This is an experience that demands an urgent response from teachers, schools, policy makers and all institutions with responsibility for education and equality issues. James Norman, Miriam Galvin and Gerry McNamara have served us well with their research and with this publication. They have broken the silence that has enveloped and hidden the presence and experience of gay and lesbian students in secondary schools. This is a silence that must be broken within all schools if a diversity of sexual identities is to be affirmed such that a safe learning environment can be provided to gay and lesbian students and such that all students place a value on diversity and difference”.

The book is available for purchased from Veritas, Eason and the School of Education, DCU

Schools reminded over homophobic bullying, Emma O Kelly, Education & Science Correspondent, reports that a blind eye is being shown to the rights of gay and lesbian pupils. Nine News, Friday 19 May 2006. Click to view RTE's news link

The report also featured on all radio station including Today with Pat Kenny and The Gerry Ryan Show.