Description
The acceptance for LGBT people in schools and in their families is very low according to the research and LGBT people often are victims of violence motivated by homofoby. Acceptance for LGB people at home and at school is a project directed to parents and families of LGB persons (lesbians, gays, bisexual persons) and pedagogical personnel throughout the country. The main objective of the project is to promote the attitude of acceptance towards LGB people, to support their families, to build positive relations between members of the families, and to socially activate parents and families of LGB people. As a result of the project, a book containing interviews with parents of LGB people will be published and used in further educational and support work. The book (2000 copies) will be distributed free of charge among LGB people, their families, schools, libraries, non-governmental organisations, and also will be published on a webpage. A pilot training program will be conducted for pedagogical personnel. The trainings will be conducted in 10 secondary and high schools with participation of LGB people who will talk on their experiences.
Summary of project results
"Surveys show that LGB persons are not accepted by a great percentage of their parents and family members. Among mothers, the percentage is 41, and among fathers 48 (source: ""Social situation of LGB persons. Report for 2010 and 2011""). The experiences of the Association Acceptance show that parents often react negatively to declarations of non-heterosexual orientation from their children. In addition to the lack of acceptance at home, young LGB persons are often exposed to homophobic violence in schools, both from teachers and from other students. The lack of appropriate support in schools and at homes has negative effect on the psychical and physical wellbeing of LGB persons. The aim of the project was to popularise the accepting attitude towards LGB persons and to activate socially parents and families of LGB persons. The project was also aimed at sensitising teachers to the issues of the wellbeing of LGB students. As a result of the activities undertaken under the project, the book titled ""Parents, come out of the wardrobe!"" was published and distributed, and 229 teachers were supplied with the knowledge on sexual orientation and on counteracting discrimination of LGB students. The book is addressed in particular to parents and families of LGB persons, and contains ten interviews with parents of LGB persons. These are eight very personal family stories (two joint interviews with parents) on relations between parents and their children. The parents gave the interviews under their real names, and every story is illustrated with a photo of the person interviewed. The book was printed in 4195 copies. The publication aroused great interest and was distributed throughout the country. It was promoted during four meetings in different cities in Poland with participation of parents interviewed in the book. Also a pilot program was implemented in the middle and secondary schools where teachers were trained in counteracting discrimination and supplied with a deeper knowledge on LGB persons. Ten such trainings were organised in different cities. The project benefited 235 persons participating in the promotional meetings of the book, and 229 teachers who took part in the trainings."
Summary of bilateral results