Books for schools - Shaun Dellenty - 'Celebrating Difference- A Whole School Approach to LGBT+ Inclusion'

[OhHolyJesus]

Just seen this on FB, anyone read it? Looks like it's a recent publication.

Recommended in U.K. Parliament and OUT NOW for #pridemonth #stonewall50 #prideinlondon from award winning educator/author/advocate @ShaunDellenty ‘Celebrating Difference- A Whole School Approach to LGBT+ Inclusion’ from Bloomsbury Education. Recounting Shaun’s experiences of homophobic bullying and detailing the multi award-winning process of compassionate organisational change he has facilitated in many hundreds of primary, secondary, faith schools and teacher training faculties since 2009. Named one of the 100 most influential LGBT people in the UK and honoured by the UK Prime Minister in 2016 for services to LGBT+ and education communities. Shaun’s work is recognised by Amnesty International, Faith and Beliefs Forum, National Diversity Awards and the Church of England.

‘Every school needs a copy’ Teacher Toolkit

‘A major contribution to the field.’ Professor Jonathan Glazzard.

‘Written beautifully with honesty and passion to make LGBT+ education understandable for everybody, without any barriers or prejudice.’ Dr Carl Austin-Behan.

‘Shaun Dellenty's whole-school approach to LGBT+ inclusion is a huge stride towards genuine organisational change.’ Dr Joseph Hall, University of Leeds.

‘This is not a book, this is a philosophy’
Lord Michael Cashman

Available at amzn.to/2EBFWyq #lgbt #education #books #authors #bloomsbury #stonewall50 #prideinlondon #lgbtq #lgbtqi #celebratingdifference #nooutsiders #pridemonth #pridemonth2019

I have posted about Shaun before, having seen his sessions promoted to educators on a Govt website.

I'll see if I can find the threads as I believe he's a bit like Andrew Moffatt.

Oh, and Tatchell wrote an intro to his book - an endorsement by Tatchell, which Shaun and his publishers promoted on Twitter

And this is why I love MN as a resource bank:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3576819-Shaun-Dellenty-the-new-Andrew-Moffatt

Lucky At Cards wrote:

I am a secondary school teacher. This academic year he has delivered in my school a two hour whole-school staff training session in addition to a number of hour-long presentations to a number of year groups.

It was awful, and many of the staff I have spoken with were quite unhappy with it.

First, the man is an absolute monstrous egotist. The whole thrust of what he said (in both the staff training and the pupil presentations) was "I'm amazing. I've been through so, so, so much! I had a horrible, horrible, experience being a gay child, I tried to commit suicide (more on that in a moment) but now I'm amazing! Look at this picture of me with David Cameron! Look at this picture of me getting an award! Look at all these glowing quotes that people have said about me. Look at this picture of my husband! I fancy Benny from Abba!". The whole thing was just some weird ego wanking, dressed up as furthering a vague idea of 'gay acceptance'.

We are professionals - we understand that our own personal viewpoints on homosexuality are irrelevant when dealing with children in our care, we don't need to preached at about how people shouldn't be homophobic. What we needed in staff training was not to be told that it's A-OK to be gay and you're a bigot if you disagree otherwise these children will kill themselves, we needed to be given practical guidance. Such as: what is the best way to support a child who is gay or lesbian in your classroom? What's the best way to manage any issues that arise with peers or bullying? What are the correct (and incorrect) things to say to a child who comes out to you? etc. But there was nothing whatsoever on this.

Further, there is a large Muslim population in my school (both staff and pupils) and this is complicated when supporting gay and lesbian pupils. Many of our Muslim pupils express attitudes that is is wrong and haram to be gay. Dellenty's response to this was tell them that it's fine to be gay - why should they care what someone else does with their genitals, and remind them that it will really hurt their gay peers feelings if they believe this. Simplistic drivel, basically, and in no way giving us guidance in how to practically address this very complicated and sensitive issue.

Secondly, I was appalled at his constant reference to the fact that he attempted to kill himself as a teen as a result of homophobia. Apart from that fact that it was used as as sort of hyperbolic blackmail (be nice to gay people or they will kill themselves!), I thought it was deeply irresponsible and contravened guidelines about reporting of suicides to vulnerable groups. The Year 8 session I supervised involved him referencing his suicide attempt and the high rates of suicide ideation in young gays and lesbians upteen times.

Regarding trans stuff, which many of us were keen to have some training on, he refused to go near it all. Just said repeatedly that it's fine to be trans but we should get a trans specialist in for that.

In essence: I think the man is a self-serving narcissist - most of what he delivers is useless and some actively dangerous.*

Has anyone noticed how when it comes to anything "LGBT" in our schools it is always gay men who are at the forefront.

Ditto for media appearances. For example, every time Sky News or BBC News wants to discuss anything related to LGBT issues it is always a gay man who is interviewed.

Where are the lesbians?

Patriarchy, eh? The only valid voices are make voices.

I've just watched this to familiarise myself with Shaun.

Have to say I totally agree with this appraisal.

The whole thing was just some weird ego wanking

At least he won't touch the trans. Refreshing that, eh!

Anyone who is purporting to be teaching kids about sexuality and includes input from at best paedophile apologist Tatchell as a feature can fuck right off.

Thanks all, I knew there would be something on him, I should have searched before posting, thank you HandsOff for this background check. One to keep an eye on for sure.

Jacky, completely agree with your observation.

Oh Holy so many of these self proclaimed 'experts' and groups slip under the radar so good to share our concerns. I suspect we'll hear more from Dellenty.

Many men must be emboldened by Moffatt's prominence in schools. In Birmingham No Outsiders is promoted in a number of schools. Moffatt has an increased public and media profile and led the recent Pride event.

I started to watch that video but I had to stop because his ego stroking was really starting to grate. He really fancies himself, doesn’t he?

I saw Moffat leading Pride, wallowing in the attention, like all his christmases has come early...anything around schools gets my spidey sense tingling and also employee diversity training and for both areas it appears to me that numerous organisations to outsource this 'education' or 'training' to keep popping up. Nothing like a bandwagon that makes £££ huh?

Whenever we can I think we need to talk about our experiences, I came here for a sanity check and I found it.

And Floral at best indeed. PT sends my spidey senses into overdrive!

Will check in with Safe Schools Alliance on this, although I'm sure they're aware already.

Really? As I see it, lgbt is now all about trans. Gay men get a mention. Lesbians are shoved out of the way by the actual women who do womanliness so much better and want to show off their female penis