Challenging homophobia in restaurant

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/texas-lesbian-restaurant_us_582c8ed2e4b058ce7aa86dda

While dining at a restaurant in Texas, USA, Natalie Woods overheard the family at the next table complaining about their nephew who had just told the family he was gay. The family at the table said they were "disgusted" and that they would pray for him to stop him being gay.

Rather than confront the family, Natalie paid for their meal, adding a note of explanation for them to read on the receipt. She left the restaurant before the family were told.

People across the world thanked Natalie for her actions when they read about her online. One message read, "The world is made better by actions of compassion and love. Thank you." 

Natalie says, "It's time myself and the people of this country defend each other, defend minorities, defend people of all races and religions."

What's the picture about? What do you think has happened? 

- Why were the people on the table next to Natalie angry?

- Why was Natalie angry when she overheard the family talking?

- What do you think Natalie wanted to do when she heard the conversation?

- Natalie describes her own table as being "very gay, very liberal" what does that mean?

- Why didn't Natalie choose to speak to the family?

- Why did Natalie pay for their meal when she disagreed with them?

- What was Natalie trying to show the family?

- What do you think the family thought when they found out? 

- Do you think Natalie's deed had any effect on the family?

- Look at Natalie's quote; why does she mention people of all races and religions?

- Do you think Natalie agrees with us and no outsiders? How do you know?

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

equalitiesprimary

US Election 2016 - Diverse candidates winning

http://www.ilhanomar.com/

On the same day Donald Trump was elected to be US President, Ilhan Omar was elected to be state representative in Minneapolis. Ilhan is the first Somali-American, Muslim woman to hold office at this level. In her acceptance speech, Ilhan said, "Everyone here in this room represents what we as a nation want to be: united in our diversity."

"Long time residents, East African Immigrants and students- we came together and engaged in the political progress. We talked about the issues that concern us and we connected on the future we want to create."

Sen. Patricia Torres Ray supported Ilhan and said, "So many people tried to divide us in this election but Ilhan worked tirelessly to bring us together."

What's happening in the picture?

Explain the story

- What is Ilhan's new job? (She will be working with other state representatives to write and vote on laws in Minnesota)
- Who does Ilhan say she wants to represent?
- What does Ilhan mean by 'engaging in the political progress'? What did she do when she met people that disagreed with her? (she exchanged dialogue)
- Why do you think people in Minnesota voted for Ilhan?
- Talk about some of the other diverse candidates that were elected this year:

Kamala Harris - the first Indian- American Senator
Catherine Cortez-Masto - the first Latina Senator
Stephanie Murphy - first Vietnamese-American woman elected to Congress
Pramila Jayapal - first Indian-American woman elected to the house of Representatives

- What does this tell us about lots of people in America and how they feel about people who have different skin, practice different  faith or have families who were originally from different countries?
- Do you think Ilhan would agree with us and No Outsiders? Why? (she says "we as a nation want to be united in our diversity")

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

equalities primary

US Election Response

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-37916908

photo MARIO ANZUONI / REUTERS

Fabio Alvarado, 91  arrives at the Registrar's office, Nowalk, California with his wife to vote in the US election. Fabio was born in El Salvador but now has US citizenship which he was granted on election day.

What's happening in the picture?

Where do you think the picture was taken?

What is the man in the picture holding?

explain the story

- What is democracy? 

-Who is allowed to vote in an election? Are black people allowed to vote? White people? Women? Gay or Lesbian people? People of different faith? Transgender people? People with disabilities?

- What does this picture show us about people who live in America?

-Is America a place where everyone is the same or people are different?

- How is Fabio feeling? Why? 

- Some people think that a country is better where everyone is the same; same skin colour, same religion, Some people say you should stay in the country where you were born. What do you think Fabio believes? 

- Imagine a world where no one travelled, no one changed, no one met people who were different, what would that world be like? 

- If you meet someone who says people who are different can't get along or live together, what can you tell them about? (tell them about our school / our city and how we show every day that people who are different can get along. We want to live in a world with people who are different)

- Why is this story about No Outsiders? 

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

equalitiesprimary

Giving a shirt to a homeless man

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3395890/It-just-came-heart-Good-Samaritan-gave-shirt-homeless-passenger-subway-says-simply-natural-reaction.html

Joey Resto was riding a New York subway when saw a another man shivering in the cold. It is January 2016 and temperatures are close to freezing yet the shivering man has no shirt. Joey approaches the stranger and takes off his own shirt, helping the freezing man to put it on. Before sitting down, Joey also places a hat on the mans head. 

The interaction was filmed by passenger Lazaro Nolasco who put the clip online where it has been shared more than  200,000 times.

What's happening in the picture?

Explain the story

- The temperature outside was almost freezing so Joey must have known he was going to be cold as he got off the train; why give up his shirt to a stranger?
- The stranger and Joey have different skin - is this a problem for Joey? What does this show about Joey?
- Did Joey check what faith the stranger practised before giving up his shirt? Why not?
- How do you think the man felt when a stranger gave up his shirt for him?
- What can we learn form Joey?
- What does this show about people all over the world?
- Why is this story about No Outsiders?

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

equalitiesprimary

Autism awareness in schools

photo: Sophie Camilleri

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/girl-autism-letter-brother_uk_580a3865e4b0f479c0d6ae88?utm_hp_ref=uk

Six year old Lex wrote this letter after a child at her school said to her, "Your brother is weird". Lex told the child that her younger brother has autism but the child didn't know what that was so Lex wrote the letter. 

Lex's mother said after the conversation Lex was really upset, "But from this she wanted to make a change. She wanted to talk about disability awareness in schools in her next school council meeting so she wrote a letter."

The National Autistic society has praised Lex and the letter is being seen by thousands of people.

What do you see in the picture?
Who do you think the letter is written to?

Explain the story

Why was Lex upset?
What did she do with her anger?
What is Lex's solution to people not understanding about her brother (dialogue)
What is dialogue and how can dialogue help people?
What do we say about disability in our school?
What do we say about people who are different?
What law in the UK says people with a disability cannot face discrimination? (The Equality Act 2010)
Who else is protected under that law?
What would you say to Lex or her brother if they came to our school?
Why is this story about No Outsiders?

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

equalitiesprimary

Airplane random act of kindness

photo: Andrea Byrd
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/stranger-pregnant-mom-southwest-airlines-flight_us_57d65d1be4b06a74c9f55c99?utm_hp_ref=power-of-humanity

During a plane journey in USA, a pregnant woman was struggling with her 20 month old son who was upset. An unknown man sitting near the woman saw that she needed help and offered to walk up and down the aisle of the plane to soothe the young child so that Mum could get some rest.

A passenger took the photo and shared it online, saying, "This man walked the aisle most of the flight from Minneapolis to Atlanta comforting this woman's son as if he was his own. I was in tears, not because he was white and she was black but because it showed me today that there are still good people out there."

What's happening in the picture?
Where are they? How do you know?

Explain the story

- Why was the little boy restless?
- How do you think Mum felt when her son became upset?
- How do you think Mum felt when the man offered to help?
- What was the impact on the boy and on the Mum?
- The boy is black and the man is white; what does this show about the man?
- This story is an example of a random act of kindness. What is the effect of a random act of kindness?
- Why is this story about No Outsiders?
- What can we learn form the man and this story?

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

equalitiesprimary

Standing Up To Hate

photo: Manuel Rodriguez
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/09/12/mexico-anti-gay-protesters/90262984/

A 12 year old boy tries to stop an anti gay march by standing in front of it with arms outstretched. 11,000 people were protesting in Celaya, Guanajuato in Mexico, September 2016 after the President proposed to change the law to allow same sex marriage nationally. Currently same sex marriage is allowed in Mexico City and 7 other cities, but is not allowed in 31 cities in Mexico. This demonstration was a protest against same sex marriage.

Photographer Manuel Rodriguez said he thought at first the boy was playing but later talked to him. The boy said, "I have an uncle who is gay and I hate people that hate".

What's happening in the picture?
Where do you think it was taken?

Tell the story

- What is the protest about?
- Why is the boy trying to stop the protest?
- Do you think he was successful in stopping the protest? He was never going to stop 11,000 people so what was the point?
- How do you think the boy is feeling?
- How do you think he feels now knowing that people all over the world know what he tried to do?
- We know not everyone agrees with us and no outsiders. Do you think the boy agrees with us? How do you know?
- What can we do when people don't agree with no outsiders?
- This story became news all over the world. Are people interested in the march, or are people interested in the boy? What does this tell us about people around the world and no outsiders?

- Is gay marriage allowed in the UK?
- What UK law says that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people cannot face discrimination? (The Equality Act 2010)

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

equalitiesprimary