They can take the form of insults, cyberstalking or even physical violence. LGBT-phobias are far from absent from schools. According to several surveys, it is even the place in which these attacks are most common, before the street and public transport.
A survey carried out in 2018 showed that 26% of LGBT people said they had been the subject of verbal abuse or threats, 13% of one or more physical assaults. To stem this phenomenon, Toulouse academy on Monday set up an observatory dedicated to these questions. “It has several objectives,” explains Mostafa Fourar, the rector. It should allow better identification, because often these facts are not reported, the victims do not dare to speak about them. It is also there to provide better support, to work to deconstruct prejudices and to raise awareness from an early age, to better promote too. “
Installation of the Academic Observatory of LGBT + phobias. Thank you to all the personalities of civil society, elected officials and researchers who responded to our invitation and who will enrich the work of the academic working group through their shared perspectives. pic.twitter.com/r2RVKJerc7
– Mostafa Fourar (@MostafaFourar) October 18, 2021
Students, educational officials, representatives of parents of students from associations working in colleges or high schools or personalities from civil society are part of this new body, which must meet at least twice a year.
“It is an important starting point for initiating a reform, to allow school leaders and teachers to arrive with knowledge and tools. I am particularly concerned by questions of transidentity since I am a trans woman, ”explained Sandra Forgues, Olympic canoe champion and president of the board of directors of the Toulouse Center for Sports Expertise and Performance Resources (Creps).
More training of teaching staff
Knowing how to react when confronted with insults in a schoolyard and having documents to refer to are among the avenues studied. “There is also a lack of training,” testifies Emilie Pique, assistant principal at the Mitterrand high school in Moissac, in Tarn-et-Garonne. When there are trainings, they are often followed by those who already feel concerned. However, everyone should be able to have access to it. We are also sometimes confronted with technical difficulties, some are reluctant, for example, to change the usual first name of the students. The mention of sex is mandatory in Pronote, but there are students who do not feel that they are girls or boys, we are also obliged to gender them on the reports. “