School Diversity Week 2019

🌈 HAPPY PRIDE MONTH 🌈

photo by Jesse Toksvig-Stewart

On Monday 24th June, I attended the Parliamentary Launch of Just Like Us' School Diversity Week 2019. SDW is a week in which schools and colleges across the UK promote lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans equality in education. This year it will be taking place from 1st-5th July, with over 1 million schoolchildren taking part.

School Diversity Week has the power to make an immeasurable impact on not only the LGBT+ pupils in the school, but all who partake. It's possible thanks to a multitude of free lesson plans and materials that Just Like Us has created to help implement LGBT+ inclusive learning into schools.

The week before the event, I was asked to make a speech - talking about my experiences at school, what I do as a JLU Ambassador, and how important SDW is. It was extremely nerve-wracking, but I'm so glad I said yes!



Afterwards, I was able to speak with so many wonderful people, and it was brilliant to see countless MPs, Teachers, and Activists in one room to support such a great cause!

So, thank you so much Just Like Us for asking me to speak last Monday, and thank you to everyone who attended for being so welcoming and kind! You can follow the #SDW19 hashtag on Twitter and Instagram to see what schools across the country are doing to help promote LGBT+ equality in education.

Here's a clip of my speech:


If you're struggling with your gender identity or sexual orientation, please consider contacting these helplines:

Childline (National - Up to 19 y/o): 0800 1111 / childline.org.uk
Mermaids (National - Up to 20 y/o): 0344 334 0550 / mermaidsuk.org.uk
Samaritans (National): 116 123 / samaritans.org
Stonewall (National): stonewall.org.uk
Switchboard (National): 0300 330 0630 / switchboard.lgbt

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