Homophobia in Sex Education

Content warning: homophobia, emotional abuse, physical abuse Age suggestion: 16+

In episode 5, Eric experiences physical and verbal abuse in a homophobic attack. Traumatised by the attack, Eric rethinks his self-expression and how he could behave differently.

Watch Netflix’s Sex Education Season 1 Episode 7 with a particular focus on Eric’s story line and his attitude towards his self-expression sexual identity.

*SPOILERS*

Prompt questions:

1. What is homophobia? 2. How would you define internalised homophobia? 3. What different reasons can you think of for Adam's persistent abuse of Eric? 4. Why is Eric’s dad ‘scared’ for him? 5. Why is it important to Eric that he wears the clothes he wants to? 6. What’s the importance of having role models in society that look like us?

COPYRIGHT © MARCH 2020 SCHOOL OF SEXUALITY EDUCATION WWW.SCHOOLOFSEXED.ORG|@SCHOOL_SEXED Watch this clip where Ncuti Gatwa ( the actor who plays Eric) talks through some of Eric’s fashion choices for more guidance:

Ncuti Gatwa Talks You Through Eric's Iconic Looks | Sex Education

Activity 1:

Rewrite the script for the scene where Adam threatens Eric before he enters the dance. Imagine how the scenario would have been different if Adam had accepted his sexuality and been honest with Eric about his feelings.

Think about:

- How Eric might have reacted - What sort of tone Adam would use - Whether at this point Adam would recognise his own internalised homophobia as a root of his anger - Who might be better placed to speak to Adam about his internalised homophobia

Activity 2:

Have a read of this article.

● Before 1967, it was illegal to be gay in the UK.

● The age of consent not made equal to age of consent between heterosexual people until 2001.

● Section 28 was a law which made it illegal to talk positively about homosexuality in school. This was only removed in 2003.

Although some positive change has occurred in the last 50 years regarding LGBT+ rights, we still have some way to go as a society.

● More than half of lesbian, gay and bisexual students have experienced homophobic bullying in school.

● 32% trans young people have missed lessons due to discrimination or fear of

Use the internet to research about LGBT+ rights in the country you are in and create a timeline of landmark events for LGBT+ rights.

To end this activity, take a look at this video by the Ad council called ‘Love has no labels’

Activity 3:

When Eric speaks to his dad outside the dance, he says, ‘Your fear doesn’t help me dad. It makes me feel weak.’

This is a nod to the black lesbian feminist writer and activist Audre Lorde who wrote, ‘Your silence will not protect you’.

Use the internet to find out more about Audre Lorde and what she meant by the above quotation. Make some notes on how this message relates to Eric’s situation.

Essay Questions:

How do the writers present Eric’s journey with his identity and self-expression in season 1, from episode 5 to episode 8?

How do the writers present Adam’s discomfort and confusion with his sexuality throughout season 1?

From what we have watched, we know that Eric is a first generation, gay, black man. How does Sex Education address Eric’s intersectional identities? This talk may give you some guidance on intersectionality.

Ncuti Gatwa’s character has ‘not been relegated to the cliché, stock character of gay, black sidekick’. How has TV perpetuated the oppression of gay and black identities through its gay/black sidekick trope?

Hint: what is the impact of seeing yourself represented fairly in popular culture? Take a look at #youcannotbewhatyoudonotsee for more ideas.

Homophobia - a hatred or fear of gay people. It can lead to someone being ignored, bullied or attacked because they fancy someone of the same gender. It is against the law in the UK to treat people differently because they are gay.

Internalised Homophobia - the self hate we might feel when we are not heterosexual (straight) because society has taught us that being anything other than heterosexual is wrong or weird. If we feel that who we fancy is ‘not right’, it can lead to feeling ashamed.

Internalised homophobia can look like:

● Not being able to accept that you are gay, lesbian or bisexual in your own mind ● Trying to force yourself to change you who fancy ● Feeling that you will never be good enough ● Disliking gay people

Can you think of any other character other than Eric in Sex Education who may have been experiencing internal homophobia?

Intersectionality - is about a person’s multiple, marginalised identities and how they influence each other to further oppress them. For example, a black woman will experience racism and sexism in a combined way. It will be different to how a black man or a white woman experience racism and sexism, respectively.

More information on the history of gay rights can be found here.

● Switchboard LGBT

● Mermaids for trans and gender-diverse young people

● Stonewall

● MindOut