Spirit day / Paarse vrijdag 2023

• Engels
• MBO
• Studiejaar 1

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A few rules for today's lesson as it deals with a subject which may be sensitive to some of you.

Absolutely no bullying!

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but do ensure you give your opinion in a way which is respectful to others.

Spirit Day 2023

(Paarse vrijdag; 8 december 2023)

Spirit day

Spirit Day was started in 2010 by Canadian teenager Brittany McMillan. It was created in response to a number of bullying-related suicides of gay school students in 2010. Brittany says she wants Spirit Day to make just one person feel a little bit better about him- or herself, to feel safe enough in their own skin to be proud of who they are.

What day?

Spirit Day takes place every 3rd Thursday in October.

In the Netherlands, Paarse Vrijdag takes place 

every 2nd Friday in December.

What does LGBTQIA+ stand for?
Be respectful!

Lesbian, 

Gay, 

Bisexual, 

Transgender, 

Queer, questioning, 

Intersex, 

Asexual, 

and the + holds space for other gender identities and preferences like non-binary or people who do not want to be labelled at all or are still exploring theirselves.

Law

In the Netherlands, everyone is equal in the eyes of the law, no matter what your sexuality.

This is not true for many other countries...

Have you ever called someone 'gay', or 'queer', or even 'different'? Maybe even just for a laugh, not because you meant something nasty?

If that person already felt 'different', it may not have come across as so innocent to them...

Have you ever called someone 'gay', or 'queer', or even 'different'? Maybe even just for a laugh, not because you meant something nasty?

1. Yes, to be mean
2. Yes, as a joke
3. Yes, but he/she was my friend
4. No

Did you consider..

Have you ever called someone 'gay', or 'queer', or even 'different'? Maybe even just for a laugh, not because you meant something nasty?

If that person already felt 'different', it may not have come across as so innocent to them...

Joel Burns' speech

In October 2010, during a regular Fort Worth city council meeting, Joel Burns spoke up for bullied LGBTQ teens.

Here is an extract of his speech...

How does that video make you feel?
You can give as many answers as you like.

Do you feel our school is a safe environment, with enough LGBTQ awareness and acceptance?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Yes, but there is some room for improvement
4. Yes, but there is a lot of room for improvement

What can teachers do to make school / their classrooms a safe environment for LGBTQ students?

What can you, as students, do to ensure everyone feels safe and accepted at school?

Have you ever thought about how hard it might be for someone to come out as LGBTQ?

They may feel safer hiding who they really are.

Have you ever thought about how hard it might be for someone to come out as LGBTQ? What are/were your thoughts? Again, be respectful!

How would you react if one of your classmates is brave enough to come out as LGBTQ?

Some advice

Let's take some advice from some older lesbian women...

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Is there anything you would like to add to or say about today's lesson?