World Leaders Photo

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/may/27/white-house-photo-caption-same-sex-spouse-luxembourg-pm

At the NATO summit in Brussels last week the partners of world leaders gathered for a photo. The group included Gautier Destenay, who is husband of the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Xavier Battel. The Prime Minister of Luxembourg is the worlds only openly gay world leader. 

The photo was celebrated across the world as a symbol of LGBT equality.

When the White House published the photo on their official Facebook page each of the partners was named apart from Gautier, who's name was missing from the list. Gautier's name was added to the list later.

Who do you think is in the photo?

What do you notice about the people?

Explain the story

- Why is this photo important?

- What does this photo show us about attitudes towards gay people today?

- When Gautier's name was missed off the list of people it could have been a mistake, but what is the consequence of that mistake? What does it look like?

- Why do you think the list was later changed to include Gautier's name?

- If there is only one openly gay world leader and all the other partners in the photo are women, what else does this photo show us about world leaders? (they are all men)

- What can we learn from this photo?

- Why is this photo about No Outsiders? Is it about No Outsiders? 

No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the Equality Act in primary schools by Andrew Moffat

equalitiesprimary

Ice cream equality

https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/35632146/love-comes-in-all-flavours-ben-jerrys-launches-same-same-ban-protest-to-support-gay-marriage/?cmp=st#page1

All Ben and Jerrry's ice cream parlours in Australia have banned customers form ordering two scoops of the same ice cream in to bring to customers attention the lack of marriage equality for LGBT people.

On it's website the company wrote:

"Imagine heading down to your local scoop shop to order your favourite two scoops of cookie dough in a waffle cone. But you find out you are not allowed. Ben and Jerry's has banned two scoops of the same flavour. You'd be furious!"

"But this doesn't even compare to how furious you would be to be told you were not allowed to marry the person you loved."

"So we are banning two scoops of the same flavour and encouraging our fans to contact their MPs to tell them the time has come - make same sex marriage legal!"

"Love comes in all flavours!"

The stores have placed letter boxes on counters to encourage customers to write a postcard to their MP while ordering their ice cream. 

What's happening in the picture?

Where is it taken?

Explain the story

- What is marriage equality?

- In the UK who is allowed to get married?

- What has ice cream got to do with marriage equality?

- Is it fair that customers in Australia are not allowed to buy two scoops of ice cream that are the same flavour?

- Is it fair that two people of the same gender in Australia are not allowed to get married?

- What does 'love comes in all flavours' mean?

- What does this show about Ben and Jerry's?

- What law do we have in the UK about LGBT people getting married?

- Why is this about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the Equality Act in Primary Schools by Andrew Moffat

equalitiesprimary

Manchester vigil

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/thousands-pack-albert-square-remember-13082307

Thousands of people attended a vigil last night in Manchester to remember the victims of the tragic events on Monday night and show the city can work together. Young people from different faith and community groups were joined by the Lord Mayor who said the thoughts of the whole city were with those affected.

The Bishop of Manchester said, "We are Manchester"

One member of the crowd, Hani Singh said, "I came out tonight to show we are not afraid. So many people tonight have come from so many different communities and it shows we are united against terrorism."

Poet Tony Walsh read out an ode to Manchester which included the lines:

We make you feel welcome and we make summat happen
And we can't seem to help it
And if you're looking from history, then yeah we've a wealth
But the Manchester way is to make it yourself."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-40019546

More examples of different communities working together emerged on twitter. Thousands of people tweeted about feeling proud of Manchester because people of different faith and culture were coming together and helping each other.

What do you see in the picture?
Where do you think the photo is taken?

explain the story

- Who came to the vigil?
-Were there people of different faith and culture at the vigil? People with disabilities, people who are LGBT, different ethnicities, genders and ages? What does this show us about Manchester?
- What does the Bishop  mean when he says "We are Manchester"
- What does the poet mean when he says, "If you're looking from history then yeah we're a wealth"?
- What can we learn from Manchester and this vigil?
- Why is this story about No Outsiders?

Hold a minute silence to remember those affected by the attack on Monday night. Think about how we can work together to show the world that diversity works and difference makes us stronger.

equalitiesprimary

Response to Manchester attack

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-40007886

People across Manchester were offering spare rooms last night after a tragic attack at a concert in in city where 19 people were killed and more than 50 injured.

Following the attack hundreds of people used twitter to offer spare beds and rooms in the city for people stranded in Manchester. The #roomsformanchester was used to spread the message and was re-tweeted thousands of times.

What do you see in the picture?
Why are people offering rooms in Manchester?

Explain the story

Why are hundreds of people offering rooms to stay in?
When people offer rooms, are they saying "Men only" or "Christians only" or "Able bodied people only" or "Straight people only"? Why not?
What does this show about people in Manchester?
What can we learn from the people offering rooms?
Why is this about No Outsiders?

Note: When talking about tragic events such as terror attacks to young people, explain that not everyone agrees with us and no outsiders. Some people want one race, one religion, one kind of person It's the opposite to us; we want lots of different races, different religions, different kinds of people. That's why it is so important that we spread our no outsiders message and keep talking about it. If you meet someone who doesn't understand about diversity and difference, talk to them.

Our thoughts are with all those affected by this terrible event.

equalitiesprimary

LGBTI choir Turkey

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-asia-39962893/turkeys-first-lgbti-choir-sings-for-tolerance

The Seven Colours Association is a LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trangender, Intersex) choir in Mersin, Turkey. It is the first choir for LGBTI people in Turkey and everyone is welcome to join in. 

The conductor says three years ago she was homophobic; "I'd never met, socialised or worked with any gay or transgender person. I avoided being in the same place as them or even sharing the footpath with them. I've experienced such a transformation in such a short space of time."

Mahir, a member of the choir says, "I walked down empty side streets avoiding the crowded main roads, I wanted to be invisible. Was someone going to say something? Was someone going to verbally abuse me? I was constantly worried until I joined the Seven Colours Association."

In Turkey being gay is not a crime but LGBTI people face discrimination and disapproval.

The choir sings about tolerance and harmony in eleven languages.

What do you see in the picture?

What are the people doing?

What do you think has brought them together?

Explain the story

What kind of transformation has the conductor experienced?

How do people change their minds?

Why did Mahir want to be invisible?

How do you think the choir has changed lives?

How did joining the choir change Mahir?

Why do you think the choir sings in eleven different languages?

Do you have to be LGBTI to join in? Why do you think the choir welcomes anyone?

What can we learn from this choir?

Why is this about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the Equality Act in Primary Schools by Andrew Moffat

Equalitiesprimary

"This is my America"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/viral-photo-jewish-hasidic-taoist-muslim-nyc-subway_us_58f78930e4b0de5bac42f606?utm_hp_ref=power-of-humanity

Jackie Summers lives in New York and last month posted this photo on line saying "This is my America: people letting people be people."

Jackie wrote, "A Taoist (me) gives up his seat so that a Hasidic couple could sit together. They scoot over so a Muslim mother could sit and nurse her baby, on Easter Sunday." In three days the photo was shared 58,000 times with 78,000 reactions. 

One comment said, "This gives me JOY! I always pray that we as a nation might become ONE as we embrace each other and our differences."

What's happening in the picture?

Where are they?

Explain the story

Why did Jackie give up his seat?

How many different faiths are represented in the story?

How are the people in the photo similar?

Why do you think the picture was shared so many times?

What does this show us about the world today?

Some say that people of different faith or culture cannot get along, what does this picture suggest?

What can we learn from this picture?

Why is this about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the Equality Act in Primary Schools by Andrew Moffat

equalitiesprimary

Racist grafitti

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/subway-riders-clean-swastikas_us_589728a8e4b0c1284f265adb

Gregory Locke from NYC boarded a subway train at Manhattan to find swastikas and racist graffiti daubed on all of the advertisements. He wrote on Facebook, "The train was silent as everyone stared at each other, uncomfortable and not sure what to do." Gregory went on to say, "One guy got up and said, 'Hand sanitiser gets rid of sharpie. We need alcohol.' He found some tissues and got to work. I've never seen so many people simultaneously reach in to their bags and pockets looking for tissues and Purel. Within about 2 minutes all the Nazi symbolism was gone."

Speaking to a news programme later, Gregory said, "Seeing a bunch of strangers stand up for, and come together to stand up for what everyone knows is right, was very heartening."

What do you see in the picture?
Where do you think the photo was taken
What do you think is happening?

Explain the story

Where does racist graffiti come from?
Why do some people write racist graffiti? (because they don't understand about equality and diversity and no one has convinced them about No Outsiders)
Why do you think people on the subway train were silent and uncomfortable?
When one man started cleaning off the graffiti, what happened? Why do you think everyone joined in?
The people could have chosen to ignore the graffiti. Why do you think they chose not to ignore it?
What were the consequences of their actions?
How do you think people felt when they left the train having cleaned it off?
What does this show us about lots of people in NYC and what they think about racism?
What can we learn from the people in this story?
Why is this story about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders in our school: Teaching the Equality Act In Primary Schools by Andrew Moffat

equalitiesprimary