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• Where to start
  • Definitions
  • Why talk about SSATY?
• Experience of Schools
• Training and resources
• Creating change
• Supporting young people
• Tips for SSATY
• Resources, research and links
• Site map

Where to start

Professional development and training for staff is the first step to engaging the whole school community.

This is fundamental to the success of any work in creating a school environment free of homophobic discrimination and supportive and safe for same-sex attracted students. That is, providing appropriate information to everyone in the school community and opportunities for teachers, administrative staff, students, parents and student well-being staff to be heard and to participate.

To create change in your school follow these steps:

First read an overview and what you and your school can do:

1. Why it is important to talk about same sex attracted and transgender young people (SSATY)?
2. Assess the issues and needs of your school with the staff, students and library. Don’t be afraid to learn what you school is doing well now, and what can be improved in the future.
3. The 10 Steps to make your school friendly for same sex attracted and transgender students.
4. Explore the pages that explore how to support a same sex attracted or transgender young person, including how and why students ‘come out’
5. Revise how to promote an inclusive classroom.
6. Discover what other schools have done.
7. Browse the available resources, web-links and research.

Familiarise yourself with key terminology, policies and laws:

1. Understand all the terminology.
2. Know how to identify your school’s needs and how to create change.
3. Policies and frameworks.

Now you are ready to read about running your own professional development session:

1. Tips for running staff professional development.
2. How to set ground rules.
3. Content for Celebrating Diversity sessions that we prepared earlier, including: presentations, activities and handouts.

If you have not facilitated any staff training surrounding this topic before and you would like to find out where you can get some outside help and train-the-trainer based training please look at the training calender and contacts page.

Discrimination for SSAT teachers can be just as prevalent by staff and students, click here to read more.

Same sex attracted and transgender young people (SSATY) and their parents, families and friends often need support. We have included a section about supporting a same sex attracted or transgender young person when they come out, frequently asked questions, myths and facts and how to support their family and friends. Click here.

If a young person would like information on any of the issues that you have discussed, there is a section on the website they might find most helpful – Tips for young people.

For further information, research, resources and website links please click here.

If you are a bit lost (because we admit that there is a lot of information on this website!) have a look at the site map.