W e made the decision to focus on LGBTQ+ issues in February rather than during June’s national Pride celebrations so as to avoid the inevi- tably hectic school calendar in June, when pupils are sitting public exams and taking part in a whole host of supra-curricular activities. Our three main aims for DC PRIDE were: 1. to increase awareness of LGBTQ+ issues, both contemporary and historical; 2. to celebrate the achievements of the LGBTQ+ community; and 3. to foster strong allyship across our pupil and staff bodies. At the start of the month, we held launch assemblies for DC PRIDE in which all of our Senior School pupils watched a film created by our Senior Prefects for EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) and members of our DC PRIDE This year saw the launch of our first DC PRIDE month, timed to coincide with the national marking of LGBT History Month in February, writes Oliver Gardner, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Pride Society. These pupils decided that the video should educate our community on the characteristics of good allyship and some key areas of LGBTQ+ history, as well as looking at the discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ people both in the past and in the present day. The video was very well received and stimulated some powerful discus- sions in tutor groups afterwards, with pupils being asked to consider how they can develop their allyship in all that they do. As with much of our EDI work, we are keen for our pupils to lead initiatives, wherever possible, so that they can focus on issues that feel most relevant to them. Our Union of Societies plays a crucial part in the marking of DC PRIDE, with pupils organising their own talks, as well as inviting in external speakers, to discuss LGBTQ+ related issues. Talks included a Middle School History Society talk on Homosexuality and Politics in 17th-century England, an Art Soc talk on Gender and Fashion, and a Modern Languages Society talk on Pride and Politics in
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