Quick Q&A for teachers

[Q1] There is a child who teases his friends by saying that he is a homo or a fag. How should we teach?

The words you use are not good, but teasing itself is not good. Instead of scolding them all at once, it might be a good idea to ask them "why", such as "Why are you saying that?" At the same time, it might be a good idea to tell people that there are people who are hurt by those words, that it is not okay to say things to hurt them, and the right words.

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[Q2] I have a student who says he likes people of the same sex. Is it a gender identity disorder?

Even if you have gender identity disorder, you may like the opposite sex, or you like the same sex, it depends on the person. Gender identity disorder is a problem of self-awareness of one's own sexuality, and homosexuality is a problem of the gender of the person you fall in love with. Don't confuse the stories.

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[Q3] There is a very feminine male student who is rumored to have gender identity disorder. I am worried that I will be bullied.   

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It certainly worries me. How about teaching your class about femininity and masculinity? I think that bullying will be less likely to occur if everyone in the class knows that there are all kinds of children, including girls who are active and boys who are quiet.

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[Q4] I have been a teacher for 20 years, but I have never been consulted by an LGBT student. Are you not trusted as a teacher?

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I don't think there are that many LGBT people who tell their teachers at school. Now that people are more aware of it, there are some people who say it even when they are still in school, but I think many will graduate without saying it. It doesn't mean that you don't trust your teacher. It may be that you can live without it. However, there may be students who find hope or relief in your daily remarks, even though you don't say so, so don't forget that you are always in class.

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[Q5] I have a student with gender identity disorder, so I would like to change the school rules so that both men and women can wear uniforms, but I am being blocked by a conservative manager. What should I do now?

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In addition to managers, there may also be opposition from the community and the PTA. In April 2011, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology issued a notice to ``give consideration to students with gender ambiguity'', so it may be effective to present it. Training for staff and parents about LGBT may also be effective. Even if our efforts did not bear fruit and we were unable to revise the school rules, I would like the students to understand that we have made various moves. Even if the result is not good, the fact that there was a teacher who worked on it will be encouraging to the students, and the students who learned about it may start working on their own next time.

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[Q6] The student concerned wants to come out in front of everyone. (Sweat)

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First of all, ask what the student is aiming for, and after what they say, what they expect, and sort it out together. Please indicate the advantages as well as the disadvantages. For example, there is the possibility of being bullied or sexually harassed, it is difficult for the school to grant all treatment for the desired gender, and it is necessary to negotiate with the place of employment and further education. If you still decide to proceed based on the disadvantages, please support me. I think it would be best if both teachers and students could study in advance so that the meaning of the come-out could be properly conveyed.

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[Q7] I have no objection to wearing trousers for female students, but it is unpopular for male students to wear skirts. What should I do?

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I have no choice but to answer that I can't help it, but it's a very common statement. Conversely, if you ask why men shouldn't wear skirts, it boils down to the person's view of men. It might be a good idea to ask them to discuss how they should think about having their school rules reflect their preference for "I don't like feminine men" (the world should agree with me).

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[Q8] There is a student who says, "It's up to the individual to feel bad about being gay, and I don't want my feelings to be denied."

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Opinions and prejudices are different. Prejudice is what you think or say badly about someone you don't know well. If you have 10 gay friends and have been with 5 of them for over 5 years and say you're gay, I think that's an opinion. If you know each other well and think so, it can't be helped. However, if someone who doesn't know anyone who is gay and has only seen it on TV says so, it's a prejudice. You can't justify prejudice by paraphrasing "feelings".

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[Q9] There is a student who seems to be dating other girls. Friendship or lesbian?

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 It doesn't matter which one. Don't you think it's unnatural that there are only two categories, romantic feelings and friendship, even though people have various emotions and relationships? What the adults around you can do is not impose a view of life as if having a family is the only happiness for a heterosexual person, such as "You will get married in the future," and "Having a husband and children is the only way for a woman to be happy." I think it should be done.

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[Q10] A student asked me to change my gender, but my family is strict and I can't tell my family. Should I tell my parents?

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It's a very difficult question. I can't say for sure, but if you're an elementary school student, try asking your students, "Should I ask the teacher to tell me?" If you really don't want to tell your parents, respect the student's opinion. If you are a minor, you will have no way to live if you are disowned and kicked out of your home. With that in mind, think about how your students can survive. It may be a good idea to consult with a group of people concerned to hear their experiences and ask for advice.

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[Q11] I am a gay teacher. I want to come out at work, but I'm hesitant because I might be fired or harassed.  

It's true that coming out can lead to bullying in the workplace or dismissal. It will be the same as when the student comes out in [Q6], but please carefully consider the merits and demerits. However, when a teacher comes out, it is very encouraging for the students. I think that I can convey not only to LGBT students, but also to many students that there are various adults and that even LGBT people can become teachers. However, if you lose your job, there will be no ex or child, so we recommend that you consider it thoroughly.

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[Q12] My colleague's teacher is very conservative and repeatedly makes discriminatory remarks about LGBT people.

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First of all, I would like the teachers around me to take a firm stance that they will not take advantage of the homosexuality or slander that their colleague makes. It may change little by little by persistently presenting problems, such as regular training instead of just once. Above all, I am worried about the negative impact on the students, so I think it is necessary to continue to send positive messages to the students, rather than the colleague saying negatively about LGBT.

★These are the plans as of 2013.
As the situation is constantly changing, the way we respond will also change. This knowledge may not always be correct. I would like you to always keep your antennas up for information and changes. And I hope that you will always have an attitude of looking back and asking yourself, “Is this good enough?