letter

 

https://guernseypress.com/news/2021/06/21/alderney-pride-shows-the-islands-positive-spirit/

Alderney is part of the Channel Islands and held a Pride event last week. It was the second time that the island, which is just three miles long and 2 and a half miles long, held a Pride event. Around 100 people took part in a parade and then there was a disco in the local community centre, which you can see in the picture above. The organisers said, "Alderney is very accepting. There's a lot of community spirit."

However, not everyone understands about equality and pride, as this letter shows, which was sent to a gay couple on the island after they appeared on the local news channel. Mr Preece and his husband received the letter you can see above. The letter says that seeing the couple on TV, "put me and my husband and grandson off our tea. My grandson asked why that man had his hand around the other one. A couple is a man and a woman and always will be. You looked like a joke. Try being in a circus."

Mr Preece showed the letter to friends and  a group called "Liberate" decided to share the letter and ask people to write to Mr Preece in response to the first letter he received.

To support this gesture, Guernsey Post have organised a free postal address for the couple. So now anyone can write a replacement letter to the couple.

If you want to write a letter, the address is; 

Mr Preece

Freepost

Alderney

GY9 3XD

- what is Pride?

- how do you think Mr Preece and his husband felt being interviewed on local TV together to celebrate Pride?

- how do you think they felt when they opened the letter?

- why do you think someone wrote that letter?

- "My grandson asked why that man had his hand around the other one." If her grandson did ask that, what could Granny have said in reply?"

- "A couple is a man and a woman and always will be." What is the letter writer's understanding of different families?

-"Try being in a circus." - What does this quote suggest the writer thinks about different families?

- How can we help people to understand about diversity and difference and different families?

- Look at the punctuation in the letter - what else does the writer need support in understanding? (where to put capital letters and full stops).

- why do you think people are asking for replacement letters to be sent to Mr Preece?

- why do you think Guernsey Post Office has set up a Freepost address for letters - what does this show about Guernsey Post and their attitude to diversity and difference?

- what can we learn from Mr Preece, Liberate group and from Guernsey Post? Can we learn anything from the person who write the original letter?

- why is this about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders: Everyone different, everyone equal by Andrew Moffat

www.no-outsiders.com

football

 

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/england-scotland-wembley-euro-2020-24350464

On Friday night in the Euros, England played Scotland at Wembley. Before kick off both teams dropped to one knee to show their support for racial equality and Black Lives Matter. 

The Scotland manager Steve Clarke said, "For our match at Wembley we will stand against racism and kneel against ignorance."

Previously the Scotland team said they would continue to take a stand against racism but would not drop to one knee during the Euro tournament. Earlier this week when Ireland played Hungary in Budapest,  the Irish team dropped to one knee before kick off and were booed by fans in the stadium. The Scotland team then announced they would join the England team in dropping to one knee.

A small number of fans have been booing the England team as they take the knee in all their previous matches. This happened again on Friday as both teams dropped to one knee but the boos were quickly drowned out by cheers from the crowd. The FA released a statement before the match to say, "We are very pleased that both England and Scotland players will demonstrate unity when they take the knee ahead of kick off. We thank the Scottish team for this showing of solidarity as we highlight our common values of respect and equality."

"Football is about celebrating pride and passion, not shouting abuse or discrimination. "

- why are players dropping to one knee before kick off?

- in the photo you see players on opposing teams but they are both dropping to one knee, what does this show about the football players?

- why are some fans booing?

- how do we stop the booing? What is the answer? Is it ok to boo?

- the boos at Wembley were downed out by cheers; what does this show about football fans today?

- why do you think the Scottish team changed their mind about this during the week?

- "we will stand against racism and kneel against ignorance." what does ignorance mean? 

- "We thank the Scottish team for this showing of solidarity as we highlight our common values of respect and equality." What does 'common values' mean? What does solidarity mean?

- what can we learn from the Scottish team this week?

- what can we learn from the two teams and their unity?

- why is this about no outsiders?

No Outsiders: Everyone different, everyone welcome by Andrew Moffat

www.no-outsiders,com 

baby cards

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-57491099

When Deborah Aja became a mum for the fist time she wanted to celebrate early life milestones with her child like the first walk or the first 6 months. However, all the cards she found had pictures of white babies; Deborah felt the cards were targeted towards babies with blond hair and blue eyes. but she is of Nigerian descent so she felt those cards just were not representative of her baby boy.

Deborah says rather than focusing on that sad feeling because the cards were not there, why not do something about it. She set up "Colour Celebrations" because she says, "Children come in all colours, shapes and sizes so lets celebrate and honour what makes us beautifully different."

Colour Celebrations now sell cards all over the world, Mum Tash says, "What I really loved about the cards was that they represented my child. It has become really really clear to me how much my children need to see themselves in books, on TV, in things they play with... I want my children to feel proud of where they come from, who they are and their backgrounds."

Deborah says her aim is to help children support and celebrate colour, culture and heritage in a bold and proud way.

- what are milestones for babies, why do parents want to celebrate and remember them?

- why do you think all of the milestones cards tend to show babies with blond hair and blue eyes?

- how did that make Deborah feel about her child who does not have blond hair and blue eyes?

- what is representation?

- why is representation important?

- "It has become really really clear to me how much my children need to see themselves in books, on TV, in things they play with." why is that important? 

- ""Children come in all colours, shapes and sizes so lets celebrate and honour what makes us beautifully different." do you think we should talk with young children about difference? Why?

- if we don't use images and toys showing difference, what do children grow up feeling?

- what can we learn from Deborah?

- why is this about No Outsiders?

flag

 

https://www.out.com/news/2021/6/11/oklahoma-dad-helps-son-fly-pride-flag-outside-home-viral-video?fbclid=IwAR1KlwNBdTLBvMJAjGqGgJYqzBK_vPTeIV0bFWhUH2ygtI6k_6XuqavHSug

Two videos have gone viral in the USA in the last week showing parents supporting Pride month and the LGBT+ community. One shows a Dad helping his son to raise a Pride-Ally flag outside their home in Oklahoma (see link above or watch a silent version here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aogtkww-qLQ )

Another shows a Dad buying a Pride flag online and explaining to his daughter, "It's Pride month." Watch the video and an interview with the dad and his daughter here 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JDKjntn7ZU

John Wyatt and his family want to support their son Caden who came out as gay a year ago. John says, "We're letting people know it's a safe space. I'm not trying to cause any controversy in the neighbourhood, but maybe there's some person out there who will see that flag and smile and feel safe."

The video has attracted a huge amount of support and Caden's Dad said he has had messages from people saying they wish their own family were as supportive. He says, "Every time I get a comment like that I tell them I got them, If they need somebody to talk to, I'm here and if they need a dad hug I'm here. If they are local and they need to come over for dinner- whatever - our home is open to them."

On the TikTok post that went viral, Dad posted, "Happy Pride month to y'all, especially to my son! Love you Caden #pridemonth #pride2021 #ally #prouddad #proudmom"

Caden says "I'm really lucky to have such supportive parents because I know  a lot of other people aren't as lucky as me."

Caden's dad chose to fly a Pride-Ally flag outside their house which gives a message of affirmation and support. Caden said, "I want people to know that my parents have their back and so do I." Caden's dad said he wasn't always an ally to the community but that changed when he and his wide realised Caden might be gay. They knew he could come out at any time and they wanted to let him know they supported him and would be there for him as a family.

On the second video a daughter asks her dad what he is ordering and he replies, "Just a rainbow flag... 'cos we need one." In the interview Dad is asked why he wanted to buy one and he says he noticed the house next door have a for sake sign up, "I wanted to make sure that our new neighbours knew that we are very tolerant of everybody, we promote diversity, and then I realised that is was June, that it was Pride month and we didn't have our flag up yet." 

They have had thousands of comments from people saying they wished their own parents were so supportive.

- what do you see in the picture? Who are they, what do you notice in the background, what might this story be about?

- Caden's dad wanted to fly a Pride-Ally flag, what is Pride, what is it for? What is an Ally? What do you think a Pride Ally flag shows?

-"We're letting people know it's a safe space" what is a safe space? Why does Caden's dad want to make his house a safe space?

-"I'm not trying to cause any controversy in the neighbourhood, but maybe there's some person out there who will see that flag and smile and feel safe." why might a flag cause controversy? why might a flag make someone feel safe?

- why are some families not supportive of LGBT+ people and Pride month?

- why does that show Pride is important?

- why has dad written #prouddad #proudmom on the tiktok post?

- Caden's dad wasn't always an ally, what does that mean/ Why did he change his mind? What does that show about ideas, beliefs and families?

-"Every time I get a comment like that I tell them I got them" what does Dad mean? what is he trying to show LGBT+ people?

Watch the interview with the other dad and his daughter 

- in the video, does dad seem bothered or nervous about buying a rainbow flag?

- what reason does he give?

- why is he anxious about the house next door going up for sale and why is he putting up his flag?

- what can we learn from these dads?

- what does this show about many families today and attitudes towards LGBT+ people?

- why is this about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders: Everyone different, everyone welcome by Andrew Moffat 

www.no-outsiders.com

cookies

 

https://attitude.co.uk/article/bakery-owners-tears-of-joy-as-hundreds-queue-for-rainbow-pride-cookies-after-anti-gay-backlash-1/25127/?fbclid=IwAR0jWRA0Za7zTiM9gsrMjieK8GGNIV269KTjZTMxfmjI-hM67QCGo807YW0

Look at the photo on the left, what do you see? A bakery in Texas posted this picture online of rainbow cookies that someone had asked them to bake for Pride month. 

On 3rd June Confections bakery posted, "Today has been hard, really hard. We just lost a significant amount of followers because of a rainbow heart cookie we posted. We received a very hateful message on our business page cancelling a large order (5 dz) of summer themed cookies that we had just finished decorating for tomorrow morning."

"My heart is heavy. Honestly I never thought a post that literally said more love less hate would result in this kind of backlash to a small business that is struggling to stay afloat and spread a little cheer through baked goods. So if you love our cookies we will have an over abundance of them tomorrow. Hopefully tomorrow will be better."

What do you think happened next?

Look at the photo on the right- what is happening?

The next day Confections were overwhelmed with queues of people around the block waiting to buy their cookies and show support. In the afternoon the owners posted, "We are astonished at your generosity of heart. The line is wrapped around the street since we opened. We will be closing today one hour early to rebake and regroup for tomorrow as we are close to being sold out. We will be open on Saturday 11-2 with more of everything including the rainbow heart that started it all."

- why do you think a customer ordered rainbow cookies?

- what is Pride month about?

- why do you think the bakery posted a photo of the rainbow cookies?

- why did they get a hateful message?

- some people say we don't need pride month... what does the hateful message show?

- "My heart is heavy" why did the owner post that, how did the cancelled order affect the bakery?

- why didn't the bakery apologise for the rainbow cookies and take the photo down? 

- what happened next?

- are all the people in the queue LGBT+?

- what does that photo show about lots of people in Texas and their attitude to equality?

- How do you think the person who posted the hateful message felt when they saw the queue?

- how can we change minds so that we don't have hateful messages in the future?

- what can we learn from the bakery? should they continue to bake the rainbow cookie?

- what can we learn from the person who write the hateful message?

- what can we learn from the people of Texas?

- why is this about No Outsiders?

No Outsiders: everyone different everyone welcome by Andrew Moffat

www.no-outsiders.com

uniform

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-57358762

Shane Richardson goes to Moffat Academy in Dumfries, Scotland. He has made national headlines this week for wearing a skirt to school after he was told he was not allowed to wear shorts. Boys are expected to wear long trousers but Shane and his friends are asking to be able to wear shorts during hot weather.

On the school website there is a uniform policy for secondary school students :

All students in all year groups should wear:- 

• White shirt/blouse (with collar and buttons to the neck); 
• Moffat Academy school tie; 
• Black trousers/skirt; 
• Dark shoes 

Shane's Mum explained that her son was too hot in class; "On Tuesday this week, Shane said to me, 'Mum,  Can I get a skirt?',"

The school says their uniform policy will be discussed and renewed at a public meeting on June 16th.

- what is a school uniform for? 

- what do you see in the picture?

- why do you think this story has made national news?

- what do you notice about the current school uniform policy on the school website? (it's gender neutral; check understanding of what that means)

- Does the uniform policy state that only girls can wear skirts?

- Has the school said that Shane cannot wear a skirt? Has he been sent home?

- why do you think the school does not want children to wear shorts?

- do you think Shane is worried or anxious about wearing a skirt?

- Is Shane's Mum anxious or worried about her son wearing a skirt?

- Does the school appear to be anxious or worried about boys wearing skirts?

- So, who is making a fuss about this? (the media - why?)

- Do you think the school will make a rule on June 16th that boys cannot wear skirts?

- what do you think the school might decide on June 16th? What options are there?

- Do you think in 2021 people in general are shocked about children wearing trousers or skirts?

- How have ideas about this changed in the last ten- twenty years?

- what can we learn from Shane?

- what can we learn from the school?

- is this story about no outsiders?

No Outsiders: Everyone different, everyone welcome by Andrew Moffat

www.no-outsiders.com

archery

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-57261993

Matt Stutzman has always wanted to be a professional athlete and is aiming for a gold medal in the Tokyo Para-Olympics this year.

Matt was born without arms and he says for him it’s not a disability, it’s just life. He says people ask him how he taught himself to eat, and he explains that he just remembers at 2 years old that he was holding his fork with his foot so his brain just knew that was how he had to do stuff before he realised that he had no arms.

When Matt was younger he wanted to be the best basketball player in the world and he spent years practising. He got very good at it and although he knew he was never going to be a NBA basketball player, he says, “I needed to do it just to prove that I could.”

Matt saw archery on TV and wanted to try it out. He says probably within 2 weeks of getting a bow he knew what he wanted to do with his life; “and from that point on, eight  hours a day sitting in a chair trying to make the Paralympic Games.” In 2012 he won a silver medal for the US.

In his spare time, Matt fixes and drives racing cars. He says, “Cars and archery are very similar as in, a car just wants to be driven and doesn’t care how it’s drove. A bow just wants to be shot and doesn’t care how it’s shot.”

In 2015 Matt broke the world record for the longest accurate shot at 283.47m (previously held by an able-bodied person).

 

In 2016 Matt missed out on a medal because of a cracked arrow. He says he learned from that experience; “When things go well you think you have figured it out. It’s when things go wrong is when you learn your lessons to make you better.”

 

-          What is different about Matt?

-          Why do you think he picked up a fork using his feet aged two, why didn’t he realise he had no arms?

-          “it’s not a disability, it’s just life.” What does Matt mean? How does he see his difference?

-          Are you different? Do we all have differences? How are you different?

-          Matt learned to be a fantastic basketball player; “I needed to do it just to prove that I could.” – why?

-          How does Matt explain that cars and archery are similar? Can this reasoning be applied to other things?

-         The article above uses the term, “Able-bodied person” to describe the person who held the world record for the long accurate shot before Matt. What do you think of that term? Is Matt not able? (despite breaking the record?). Is language important? Think about the word, “disability” for example; what does the prefix suggest about a person? Some businesses have changed the wording on their "disabled toilet" to "accessible toilet" - why? 

-          “It’s when things go wrong is when you learn your lessons to make you better.” What dos this mean?

-          What can we learn from Matt and this story?

Why is this about No Outsiders?

village

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-55863061

During World War Two a village in the south- east of France took in thousands of Jewish people and hid them from Nazis to protect them. Le Chambon-sur-Lignon became known through word of mouth as a place where Jewish refugees would be shielded. The operation was led by a local pastor and his wife who led calls for volunteers to help refugees fleeing persecution. Ordinary residents risked their lives to hide Jewish refugees as the village was occupied at the time by the Nazis.

One of the refugees was a boy called Eric Schwam, pictured above. Eric arrived in the village from Vienna in 1943 with his parents and grandmother, although it is not known how they got there.

After the war Eric moved to Austria and then France to study pharmacy. Late last year Eric died aged 90 and in his will, he has left £1.7 million to the village.

Eric did not want publicity and has left no message to the village. The mayor of the village says the money will be used to fund education and youth initiatives.

-          Why were thousands of Jewish people in need of hiding in WW2?

-          What did the Nazis believe about Jewish people and about anyone who was different?

-          Le Chambon-sur-Lignon was occupied by the Nazis, what does this mean?

-          Why do you think a pastor, who was not Jewish, chose to find hiding places for the Jewish refugees?

-          - why do you think residents in the town who were not Jewish chose to help and hide Jewish refugees?

-          What would have happened to a family if they had been caught hiding Jewish people?

-          When Eric was a refugee hiding with a family, do you think he imagined he would end up being a millionaire?

-          What does this show us about being a refugee; how can lives change?

 -          Why do you think Eric left so much money to the village?

-          How do you think the people who live in the village today feel about their village’s history?

-          What can we learn from Eric?

-          What can we learn from the pastor and the villagers from 1943?

-          Why is this a story of hope?

Why is this about No Outsiders?

rugby

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-northern-ireland-57024364

Ian Cunningham is 80 years old and is one of the oldest walking rugby players in the UK.

Ian started playing rugby at school over 60 years ago and loved it. In the link above he says, “In rugby your greatest rivals are often among your greatest friends.”

 

Ian had an injury and had to stop playing the sport. But as he got older he started hill-walking and that was when his knee surprisingly started to heal. Now he plays for the Auld Greys, so called because of the grey line stone buildings in Kendal, where they are based, but also because of the grey hair on the players. The team for over 55s welcomes men and women.

 

Ian says walking rugby clubs will welcome anybody, even if they have not played rugby before; “Never mind the skill, any speed or anythinglike that, it’s the friendship that’s the important thing.”

-          Why do you think this story has made the news?

-          What is the stereotype for an 80 year old?

-          How is Ian breaking down stereotypes?

-          “In rugby your greatest rivals are often among your greatest friends.” What does this mean?

-          How do you think Ian felt when his injury meant he had to stop playing rugby?

-          Why do you think he knee healed?

-          Ian thought he would never play rugby again; what does this show us about the future and hope?-      

      -     In the Auld Greys, men and women play together. What does that show about the people in the team and what they feel about gender equality?

-          “Never mind the skill, any speed or anythinglike that, it’s the friendship that’s the important thing.” What does this mean?

-          What an we learn from Ian?

-          What can we learn from the Auld Greys?

Why is this about No Outsiders?

inter-faith

 

https://www.upworthy.com/catholic-church-opens-doors-for-ramadan-dinner

Muslims across the world recently observed Ramadan. During Ramadan people choose not to eat during daylight hours (fasting) and only breaking the fast as the sun goes down in the evening. The time when people break their fast to eat is called Iftar and is a time when families and communities come together to “break bread”.

Covid restrictions have meant many Muslim communities have been unable to meet at sundown as indoor events are unsafe. A Catholic church in Barcelona, Spain, realised they had cloisters that were an outside space that could work for their Muslim friends to meet and hold Iftar. 

The rector at Santa Anna, Father Peio Sanchez, opened the doors of the church at sundown so that Muslims could observe Iftar in the open air together. Catholic volunteers served 50-60 meals to Muslims every night.

Faouzia Chati is president of the Catalan Association of Moroccan Women and it was she that first approached Father Peio Sanchez. Faouzia says, “People are very happy that Muslims can do Iftar in a Catholic church because religions serve to unite us, not to separate us.”

Father Sanchez says, “Even with different cultures, different languages, different religions, we are more capable of sitting down and talking than some politicians”

Hafid Oubrahim, a Moroccan Muslim who attended the dinners says, “If you are Catholic or another religion and I am Muslim, that’s fine. We are all like brothers and we must help each other too.”

-          What is Ramadan?

-          Why do people choose to fast?

-          What does “break bread together” mean?

-          Why can’t Muslims meet up indoors to break bread together?

-          What is different about this Catholic church?

-          Why did people who were catholic volunteer to make food for people who were Muslim?

-          “religions serve to unite us, not to separate us.” What does this mean?-         

     - “Even with different cultures, different languages, different religions, we are more capable of sitting down and talking than some politicians” who is Father Sanchez talking about here?

-          “We are all like brothers and we must help each other too.” What does Hafid mean? What word could he add to make this sentence even more inclusive?

-          What does this story show us about religion around the world today?

-          Why is this about No Outsiders?