Appendix 14
The Metro Centre - LGBT History Month Evaluation
GALOP and The Metro Centre worked with Greenwich Metropolitan Police and Greenwich Picturehouse on a project inviting young people educated within Greenwich borough to attend screenings of The Laramie Project, as part of PSHE/Citizenship.
The Laramie Project is a film based on the real murder of a young gay man and the subsequent trial of two individuals from the Laramie community. Adapted from an acclaimed play which has become the most performed production across American high schools, this powerful and moving film portrays the true story of the murder of Matthew Shepherd, a young gay man growing up in the small town of Laramie, Wyoming, USA. His brutal killing brought a wave of media attention on the issue of hate LGBT crimes not just in the States, but worldwide.
Plumstead Manor, Eltham Green, St Pauls Academy and Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys participated, with pupils attending from Year 10 through to 6th Form. The aim of the screenings was to raise awareness of homophobic hate crime and bullying as well as identify routes of support for young people that identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or those who are questioning their sexual orientation.
The subsequent discussions with the young people attending the screening involved (but not limited to) talking about which characters were most tolerant and intolerant, whether this crime could happen here, discussions about the death penalty in America and talking about how religious people were portrayed.
This was reinforced with the presence of the Greenwich Met Police LGBT Liaison Officers, explaining their role in tackling Hate Crime and GALOP, London’s leading Homophobic Hate Crime charity. Galop continues to offer Third Party reporting within Greenwich.
Young people completed an evaluation, with the majority enjoying the film. The students were asked how the film made them feel where they would report Hate Crime and whether they (or someone they knew) had experienced homophobia. Further statistics and comparative information can be given on request. ‘This film made me feel moved –the fact that something of that magnitude could be done by another human being’ Student 16 Woolwich Polytechnic ‘This film made me feel more aware of the homophobia topic…’ Teacher Eltham Green
The Metro Centre continues to offer follow up work with the education establishments, supporting SRE and PSHE work. Greenwich Picture House where very supportive.
The Metro Centre also provided seminars:
Look Beyond the Label
One looking at Homophobic Bullying ‘Look Beyond the Label -Breaking the Silence for LGBT Young People’ with guest speaker Ian Warwick (Senior Research Officer, Thomas Coram Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London) speaking about his qualitative research on different school’s responses to homophobic bullying. This was an informal presentation of some great research and was attended by both Teachers and Youth Workers.
Can You See Me?
The Metro Centre produced an evening of presentations and discussion titled ‘Can You See Me? The Invisibility of Young LGB People In Substance Misuse.’’. The evening brought together professionals working in the LGB drugs field, young people and professionals working in Greenwich. The presentations focused on LGB specific drugs projects, the current need for LGB specific drugs projects because of marginalisation and perceived and real barriers to drugs services for young LGB people. Also young LGB people as a ‘vulnerable’ group not being recognised in the Every Child Matters strategy
LGBT History Month is an advantageous method of being able to celebrate the positive aspects of being having a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Trans. It is also a method of educating and providing awareness to professionals and young people that do not identify as LGBT, of how it is to be LGBT and to demonstrate we do matter - Every Adult and Every Child Matters!
Joel Korn
Youth & Statutory Liaison Worker
The Metro Centre