G A L E THE GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR LGBT EDUCATION alliance news

GALE website platform opens up to members

After more than a year Third, the members can use lent to one US dollar. Edu’s who have been specifically of preparation, GALE opens mailing lists, which allow them can be earned by doing jobs involved in education about up the website platform which to easily communicate with for the Alliance, like writing LGBT issues in the last five will support the interaction each other through their own articles, editing or trans- years. In addition, GALE will between the members of the private mailbox, while keeping lating them, or being active start a global quick scan Alliance. The website combines an archive of the messages in a working group. to map strategies and inter- a range of technical possibili- on the website. The specific combination ventions that already have ties, which are commonly not of functions and focus on been developed. The quick found within one website From October 2007 on, the interactivity is new and it scan will also reach out management system. website is open for members is an interesting experiment to potential stakeholders First and foremost, the website to register. They can do this to see if the system works who like to collaborate is a wiki-like informational by submitting a profile. effectively. The Alliance will on enhancing the quality platform with articles in Membership is not free. evaluate this after one year. of their work in this area. English, Spanish and French. However, many potential The results of the quick Secondly, the website allows members do not have the The next phase of getting scan will be: country members of the Alliance to money to pay a membership GALE better known in the overviews with a short see more information than fee. worlds of LGBT activism strengths/weaknesses the general public and to This is why the Alliance intro- and education. In February, analysis, more GALE submit their own news, duces a virtual currency: a mailing will be done to more members and a network articles and comments. the edu. One edu is equiva- than 1.000 contact persons, of country ambassadors.

 YEAR 1, NR. 1 FEB. 2008 G A L E THE GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR LGBT EDUCATION G A L E THE GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR LGBT EDUCATION alliance news alliance news

African Strategy Group starts European Strategy Group finishes to develop media resource strategic plan

In the end of September, To organize the meeting, In February 2007, GALE Program. These two targets a group of representatives TRP thought it essential to invited a group of 10 people are focused on mainstreaming, from southern African organi- create collaboration between from 7 European countries in other words: the inclusion zations came together to dis- grass roots organizations and to explore the opportunities of LGBT specific aspects in cuss the creation of a GALE mainstream organizations to enhance education and mainstream professional resource tool for media work- from the start. Thus, 4 LGBT training about LGBT issues training and in school policies. ers. The publication will be organizations were invited and in the European region. the key tool of the GALE 4 mainstream organizations. At the end of the meeting, Finally, the Strategy Group Strategy in Africa. The grass roots organizations it was decided to found notes that mainstreaming is The group consisted of 5 les- were TRP itself, LeGaBiba from a European Strategy Group. often still not possible. Even bian and members from Botswana, GALZ from In a period of 5 months, in a “developed” region like LGBTI organizations and 5 Zimbabwe and Behind the group elaborated Europe, most mainstream heterosexual members from the Mask from South Africa. the first exploration into organizations are not inter- media organizations. The mainstream organizations a coherent strategy plan f ested in including the concerns Collaboration between were the Media Institute, or the next 4 years. of LGBT people in their these partners is an essential CMS Productions and MMP services and too many element in the (southern) from South Africa and MISA The first priority of GALE African strategy. from Namibia. Europe is to collect and share Most of the meeting was good practices. To give this The meeting was organized spend on developing concrete a good start, the group wants by Ian Swartz and his organiza- ideas on how one or several to do a Quick Scan project. tion The Rainbow Project media tools would look like According to the Strategy (TRP). TRP is the main LGBTI and how they would be used Group, the central precondition organization in Namibia. in local strategies. The meeting to do quality-enhancing work Before the meeting was resulted in a general descrip- is to have an overview of what organized, a consultation was tion of a format (a short is being done and thereupon done among southern African paper media guide and actively share these experi- organizations to explore which a cd-rom) and a briefing ences. The Strategy Group priorities might come up at the for the content of the tools. adds it is not enough to just meeting, which was meant Several participants in collect experiences. When is to create a fundament for the meeting said they would an experience a good practice? a GALE African strategy group. be ready to invest some Which are the criteria to rate From this consultation it own resources in the tool this? The group intends to became clear that a focus and the implementation plans, develop a rating system, on working wit the media in addition to the international so GALE members can see governments actively resist support grass roots organiza- would be a priority. funding GALE want to raise. which practices are really even basic attempts to raise tions in developing their own The mass media have a huge good or best practices. awareness about equal oppor- plans, projects, linking with influence on public opinion tunities. In those cases, grass authorities, acquiring funding in Africa, but reporters are Two other projects the strat- roots organizations need to and managing the projects. often misinformed, prejudiced egy group likes to create are take the initiative themselves. or forced by their governments the development of an effec- For this, GALE will develop to report negatively on LGBTI tive LGBT Training Module and an educational capacity-build- issues. an LGBT Inclusive Safe Schools ing program, which will

 YEAR 1, NR. 1 FEB. 2008  YEAR 1, NR. 1 FEB. 2008 G A L E THE GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR LGBT EDUCATION G A L E THE GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR LGBT EDUCATION alliance news alliance news

GALE gets support in Brazil GALE Asia proposes to embark on three projects

Meeting of GALE with Minister Lazaro of Education. On the right, Minister Lazaro with Peter Dankmeijer, director of GALE. On the left, Toni Reis, chair of ABGLT. In the middle, Jacqueline Moll, director of the ministry and an assistant.

the health curriculum of all to be combated to provide December 16, 2007 - The first in a lot of Asian countries, port and change. Where formal NGOs in Asia, especially secondary schools. Several effective care and prevention. GALE strategy meeting in Asia the words “gay, , bisex- collaboration with govern- in countries where the Senators and Members of concluded with ideas and ual or ” or “LGBT” ments is not possible yet, there authorities are not yet the House of Representatives UNESCO Brazil works closely general plans for 3 projects: are without meaning or read collaboration with NGOs will be open to collaboration. pledged their support through with the Ministries of a quick scan, mainstreaming as Western concepts. A lot of a stepping stone to change. 3. Documenting the living their parliamentary function. Education and Health and LGBT issues in NGO’s and non heterosexual activity and A third conclusion was that conditions and human rights The Ministry of Justice Education. One of the storytelling. identities are framed in gen- basic information on the living fights through storytelling, explained its experiment with successes of UNESCO Brazil dered or/and intergenerational conditions of sexual minorities in order to collect campaign a mandatory online course for is a large scale research on From 31 October until contexts, for example the many is little known. Giving them and training material and police officers about human sexual behavior and needs for 2 November, GALE organized traditional groups of biological a voice and support to tell their to reach out to storytellers rights and LGBT issues. sex education. This research it first strategy meeting in men who act as women, stories could be a first and as future educators and The Ministry of Justice is showed a need for more atten- Asia. After getting acquainted boy-man relationships, female basic way of education. trainers. willing to share the expertise tion to LGBT issues, which was with some Indonesian LGBT friendships and women priest- This very first analysis led to from the online course globally a convincing argument to start organizations in Jakarta on hoods. One conclusion from the planning of three projects: The next Asian strategy During a three day visit to and connected to three minis- and is also interested in inter- acting. GALE will collaborate October 29, the group moved this is that GALE should adapt 1. Mapping the challenges, meeting was planned in Brasilia in December 2007, tries, a range of politicians national exchange on interac- with UNESCO to promote to a meeting resort in Bogor. its mission statement and opportunities and stakehold- conjunction with the ILGA GALE got support from several and some NGO’s. In advance, tive training of the uniformed and carry out such research The aim of the meeting was goals to integrate gender ers in all Asian countries and Asia conference in Chiang Mai ministries, politicians, UNAIDS a networking agenda had been forces. in other parts of the world to explore the situation of issues in a more comprehen- publishing them in native (January 2008). This confer- and UNESCO. The visit was prepared. GALE was looking and to enhance the quality education abou t LGBT issues sive way. It is necessary to languages on the GALE ence was used as a start for successful beyond expectation. forward to create connections Meeting up with the NGOs and scope of teacher training in Asia and of possible strate- create local analyses and inter- website. the storytelling project as well. between GALE and Brazilian was very successful as well. on how to deal with sexual gies and projects to enhance pretations. Using Westernized 2. Mainstreaming sexual Toni Reis, chair of the federa- partners in the quest to raise Pedro Chequer of UNAIDS diversity. the scope and effect of this concepts of homophobia are diversity issues in regular tion of Brazilian LGBT organi- the quality of education about was enthusiastic about the work. The meeting was hosted often misleading to understand zations ABLGT and GALE LGBT issues. In addition, GALE plan to do a quick scan by HIVOS South East Asia and the varying Asian contexts and advisory board member from GALE would be exploring in Latin America. He offered there were 10 participants, unproductive to improve living Brazil thought it was important opportunities for concrete logistical and financial support. from India, Indonesia, Japan, conditions. to make the Brazilian authori- collaboration on 3 events GALE will collaborate with the Philippines and Thailand. The discussion on the situation ties aware of the existence of in 2008: a Latin American/ UNAIDS as well to organize The participants noted that in different Asia countries GALE and explore the possibili- Caribbean strategy meeting, a debate during the World “Asia” is not a coherent region. concluded with some clear ties for support and collabora- a Brazilian expert meeting AIDS Conference in Mexico It may be useful to divide the conclusions. First, the needs, tion. He invited Igo Martini and on working in schools and City. This debate should raise region in about 5 or 6 sub challenges and opportunities Peter Dankmeijer to join him. an event on homophobia dur- the awareness that combating regions, based on some com- are not at all clear at this time. Igo Martini is director of ing the World AIDS Conference stigma is an important issues mon features like economic This creates a need for a more CEPAC, the Parana Center for in Mexico City. in the AIDS pandemic. development, shared religions thorough mapping of the situa- Civil Rights, which focuses on Men who have sex with men and cultures and political reali- tion in all Asian countries. sex education in schools, The visit was successful and women who have sex ties. It was stressed that many CEPAC is the main implementa- beyond expectation. Both with women are too often people are speaking local lan- A second conclusion was tion partner of GALE in Brazil. the Ministries of Education denied services and their guages and there is a need for that in a lot of Asian countries, Peter Dankmeijer is executive and Health assured they were own service organizations translation in these. It was the governments are not yet director of GALE. very happy with the initiatives are denied funding because noted also that the partici- supportive for sexual diversity. of GALE. The GALE plans link of prejudice and stigmatizing pants reflect only a small part In many countries, NGOs are They visited the capital of into the Brazilian plans to attitudes. GALE agrees with of those aspects. the only ones to build capacity Brasil, Brasilia, for three days implement LGBT issues in UNAIDS this stigma needs Another important note is that and networks for social sup-

 YEAR 1, NR. 1 FEB. 2008  YEAR 1, NR. 1 FEB. 2008 G A L E THE GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR LGBT EDUCATION G A L E THE GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR LGBT EDUCATION global news local news

UNESCO pushes for equal opportunities Brazilian government develops anti-homophobia curriculum

UNESCO is currently planning Contributing to the fight the goal of UNESCO to build its Medium-Term Strategy against HIV/AIDS has been knowledge societies based on for 2008-2013. The draft plan included in the UNESCO the principles of freedom of offers ample opportunities strategy in the past years expression, universal access to for LGBT educationalists to link and offers multiple information and knowledge, into. Of course, “Education For opportunities. promotion of cultural diversity, With effect from 2005, tion of non-hegemonic models All” is the central issue in the and equal access to quality the Brazilian government took and deconstruct the ‘natural- long term strategy of UNESCO. GALE will submit a formal education, which of course is initial steps to implement ized’ images attributed to Mainstreaming gender equality application to be an allied part- exactly what GALE is. In addi- the education clause in the the male and female genders”. and upholding human rights ner of UNESCO early 2008. tion, GALE looks forward to ing and intercultural dialogue national action plan against are main issues in the plan. GALE will specifically link into collaboration on teacher train- through storytelling. homophobia (“Brasil Sem In 2006, schools were already Homofobia”). As a start, a joint ‘warmed up’ by the distribution committee of government of a brochure, which officials and LGBT organiza- announced the government tions has been created to intention to deal with homo- discuss the content and strat- phobia in schools. new materials egy. During this year, several discussions will take place. Another example is In 2005/2006, the Education the Educating for Diversity Ministry financed 15 projects project, involving capacity- submitted by NGOs, universi- building for 120 education ties and local governments professionals from state for the capacity-building of schools in the southern education professionals in city of Curitiba. A practical Dutch National Youth Council presents peer relation to citizenship and guidebook was also published sexual diversity. to assist the professionals education brochure In 2006/2007, 31 such projects in dealing with the subject are being financed in 12 of of sexual diversity as part the country’s 27 states. of their daily activities at the schools. The Dutch National Youth Christian Democratic Party In September, the brochure In the federal capital Brasilia, Council decided last year it and got the chance to was pre-tested to check a pilot project will be done. In June 2008, GALE will is important to provide young interview Prime Minister how teenagers, teachers This project, “Poder Ser” collaborate with the Brazilian people with adequate informa- Balkenende. She asked him and voluntary educators (“Can be”) will focus on devel- government to organize tion about sexual diversity, when he fell in love for the first respond to it. The feedback oping a pedagogical resource a national expert meeting meaning homosexuality, time and when he found out was positive, and suggest and teacher training. It aims on the implementation of heterosexuality, he was heterosexual. the Ministry of Education to train at least 100 teachers. anti-homophobia education. and transgenderism. The brochure gives correcting should consider distributing Although the focus will be The Council got 10 heterosex- information for Muslim young it to all secondary schools. on homophobia, the scope will ual young people of 14 and 15 people who sometimes are be wider. Among other things, year old together and guided prejudiced about same sex the project aims to “promote them to develop their own relationships and interviews reflection on the socio-histori- information brochure. a famous Dutch male to female cal-cultural construction of This peer education method transsexual and a gay teenager human sexuality and the sexual led to an untypical education from the countryside who repression that permeates it, resource, called “What’s Your recently took part in the to discuss the merits of Flavour?”. One of the girls in Amsterdam Canal Pride the heteronormative model, the group was active in the with his own float. to contribute to de-stigmatiza-

 YEAR 1, NR. 1 FEB. 2008  YEAR 1, NR. 1 FEB. 2008 G A L E THE GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR LGBT EDUCATION new materials global news

Campaign Against Homophobia builds information website

Marta Abramowicz of the Portal focuses on all discrimi- Poland faces multiple problems The first draft of the law even Polish organization “Campaign nation grounds, not only on in combating discrimination. considers jail sentences for this Against Homophobia” (KPH) homophobia. Not the least of all is the atti- so-called promotion. is developing an educational The majority of articles will be tude of the government itself. website to inform Polish people in Polish, but there will also be The Ministry of Education Two years ago, Polish organi- about diversity and social a section in English called recently drafted a law draft zations launched a campaign inclusion in the framework of “For Foreigners” presenting focused on banning so called to implement the Council of Year of Equal Opportunities the main cultural differences “homosexual propaganda” Europe manual “Compass” for All. The website is called and obstacles which in schools. It means that teach- in schools. However, the Polish www.multikulti.org.pl and a foreigner from Western ers who teach about homo- government thwarted the is online since December. World can face in Poland. sexuality can be dismissed. campaign by “strongly recom- mending not to use the manual in schools and not to invite gay activists” to explain the gay and lesbian issues. The head of the Centre of Teachers’ Development was dismissed for publication of Compass. In effect, the use of the manual was prohibited. Later on the government threatened to fire any teacher giving opportunity to teach about homophobia. This gross repression of the freedom of expression forced KPH to look for other ways to provide their education. Hopefully the Polish people will find their way to the website.

Colophon LGBT Education. Newsletter of the Global Alliance for LGBT Education (GALE) for international networks. | Year 1, Nr. 1, February 2008 | This newsletter is made by the Working Group International Collaboration | Chair: Toni Reis, Brazil; Secretary: Wim Monasso, The Netherlands Any enquires: info@LGBT- education.info | More information about GALE: www.LGBT-education.info

 YEAR 1, NR. 1 FEB. 2008