Pride and Progress

Section 28 was an amendment to the Local Government Act of 1988, which prohibited local authorities from intentionally 'promoting homosexuality', or promoting the 'acceptibility of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship'. This legislation came into place in 1988, and planted fear into our educational spaces. For years, Section 28 created a culture of silence around LGBT+ identities in our schools, and for many LGBT+ people, this silence became shame. Section 28 was in place for 15 years, and had an immeasurable impact on generations of LGBT+ young people, as well as limiting the education around LGBT+ identities for all young people. November 18th 2023 marks 20 years since Section 28 was fully repealed. This Pride & Progress special event explores what Section 28 looked like in our past, its legacy in our present, and how we can learn from it to create a more inclusive future. Our incredible speakers: · Professor Emeritus Sue Sanders, Chair of Schools Out UK, and co-founder of LGBT+ History Month UK (X @suesanders03). · Professor Paul Baker, author of 'OUTRAGEOUS!: The Story of Section 28 and Britian's Battle for LGBT Education' (X @_paulbaker_). · Professor Catherine Lee, author of 'Pretended: Schools and Section 28' (including her story, which helped inform the film 'Blue Jean') (X @DrCatherineLee).

This week we have assembled an incredible panel of guests to discuss the topic of 'queering leadership'.

Our panel is made up of four inspirational leaders from different sectors of education: David Weston (he/him) from the charity sector, Alex Baird (they/them) from HE, Richard McDonald (he/him) from secondary, and Holly Coull (she/her) from primary.

In this episode, we discuss what can be learnt from leaders who belong to the LGBT+ community, and how we can challenge, or queer, traditional approaches to leadership.

We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode. You can follow us on X/Twitter, Instagram, and Threads @PrideProgress, and our guests on X/Twitter @rjmcdonald24; @hccoull; @AlexBaird12; @informed_edu (David).

You can find links to other Pride & Progress resources and events here: https://linktr.ee/prideprogress.

Thanks for listening! 

In this conversation, we are joined by the brilliant Abena Akuffo-Kelly (she/her). Abena wears many hats, but she joins us in this conversation as an educator, speaker, union activist, mentor and coach. We first met Abena when we saw her deliver a session on exploring Unconscious Bias. The session was fantastic, and we wanted to bring it to our audience through this episode. In this episode we explore what unconscious bias looks like in theory, in practice, and in action. - We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode. You can follow us on X, Instagram, & Threads @PrideProgress, and Abena on X @a_akuffo_kelly. You can find links to other Pride & Progress resources and events here: https://linktr.ee/prideprogress Thanks for listening!

This week we speak with Olly Pike (he/him). Olly is is the Director of Pop'n'Olly - an LGBT+ edutainment resource for children, parents, carers and teachers. Olly's videos and books are being used in homes and primary schools across the UK and beyond to help combat homophobia and transphobia before it can begin to develop.

In this episode we discuss Olly's stories, and the power they have to show young people a wider variety of ways to be.

You can find all of Olly's resources at https://www.popnolly.com.

We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode and you can also follow us on Twitter and Instagram @PrideProgress. You can find links to our other resources here: https://linktr.ee/prideprogress

Thanks for listening!

This week we speak with the wonderful Shivani Dave (they/them). Shivani is a non-binary journalist, broadcaster, and physicist. Shivani began their media career at the BBC, and while working for Radio 4, began producing an independent passion project called The Log Books, sharing the untold stories of British queer history. They specialise in telling stories with the communities that are often unheard, most recently releasing Black and Gay, Back in the Day. 

Alongside this work, Shivani is a presenter at Virgin Radio, a TikTokker, and a drag artist under the brilliant name Dishi Sumac. They are also in the Radio Academy's 30 under 30 2022, Attitude 101 Honours list, and have been recognised by the British LGBT+ Awards as one of their 'Top 10' broadcasters of 2022.

In this episode we discuss intersectionality through the lens of race and ethnicity, what we should be doing as a society to become more trans and non-binary inclusive, and the importance of queer joy!

You can follow Shivani on Twitter at @ShivaniDave.

We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode and you can also follow us on Twitter and Instagram @PrideProgress. You can find links to our other resources here: https://linktr.ee/prideprogress

Thanks for listening! 

This week we talk to the sensational Divina de Campo!

Divina (he/she/they) is an actor, singer, performer, drag artist, and a member of Drag Race royalty. Divina joins us to talk about her experience of education, as both a student and teacher, all while looking fabulous in her sparkly pig banker jumper (check our socials to see a picture!).

You can follow Divina on Twitter at @Divinadecampo.

We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode and you can also follow us on Twitter and Instagram @PrideProgress. You can find links to our other resources here: https://linktr.ee/prideprogress

Thanks for listening! 

This week we are joined by Sab Samuel, who is better known as Aida H Dee: The Storytime Drag Queen, and founder of Drag Queen Story Hour UK. Aida H Dee is an ADHD, neurodivergent, queer hero of literature, theatre, and children's entertainment. They join us in this episode to talk about the work they do with Drag Queen Story Hour UK, and the value it has for young people. Their brand new children's book, "My First Pride", is available for pre-order. You can find out all about their work, and their children's books, on their website: https://www.dragqueenstoryhour.co.uk. 

We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode and you can also follow us on Twitter and Instagram @PrideProgress. You can find links to our other resources here: https://linktr.ee/prideprogress

Thanks for listening! 

This week we speak with the brilliant Ian Timbrell (he/him) about LGBT+ inclusive relationships and sex education.

Ian shares great advice about how to plan your curriculums, which topics should be discussed at which age, and how to navigate difficult conversations. A must listen for anyone who teaches RSE!

We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode and you can also follow us on Twitter and Instagram @PrideProgress. You can find links to our other resources here: https://linktr.ee/prideprogress

Thanks for listening!

This week we bring you a special panel episode discussing LGBT+ inclusive sport and PE.

Our brilliant panel is made up of a range of LGBT+ athletes and educators, each who bring a unique perspective to the topic. Our four superb guests are Alex Baird (they/them - @AlexBaird12), Jake Williamson (he/him - @jakewilliamson4), Martha Riggs (she/her - @MarthaRiggs4), and Michael C. Wearing (he/him - @_Michaelwearing).

In this episode we discuss some of the challenges and barriers that face LGBT+ people from fully participating in PE and sport, share great advice and guidance, as well as celebrate the progress that has been made in LGBT+ inclusive sport.

We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode and you can also follow us on Twitter and Instagram @PrideProgress. You can find links to our other resources here: https://linktr.ee/prideprogress

Thanks for listening!

It is LGBT+ History Month and we are joined by Molly and Sophie from The Proud Trust to explore why this month matters, and how their resources can help teachers during this month. The Proud Trust are a Manchester based charity described as ‘The Home of LGBT+ Youth’. They are a life changing charity who provide education, support, and advocacy for LGBT+ young people and their communities. You can find out more about their work here: https://www.theproudtrust.org

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We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode and you can also follow us on Twitter and Instagram @PrideProgress. Thanks for listening!

This week we are joined by the fascinating Paul Baker (he/him). Paul is Professor of English Language at Lancaster University. He has written 22 books on language, sexuality and social history - covering topics that include Section 28, Polari, gay men in the merchant navy, and newspaper coverage of LGBTQ+ people. 

In this conversation we talk about the importance of connecting with older generations of LGBTQ+ people, to learn our history, and the lessons we can learn from their fight for equality. We discuss Paul's most recent book: Outrageous! Which charts the story of Section 28 and the battle for LGBTQ+ education. We loved Paul's book so much that we have started our own Pride & Progress Bookclub! Find out more, or sign up, using this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-pride-progress-book-club-tickets-383306880197

We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode and you can also follow us on Twitter @PrideProgress and Paul @_paulbaker_. Thanks for listening!

This week we are joined by the ray of sunshine that is Nick Kitchener-Bentley (he/him). Nick is a wonderfully positive and encouraging voice in education and among his many roles is a secondary school Lead Practitioner and teacher of Drama, Inclusion & English. Nick is also the Drama subject specific lead tutor for Coventry University’s National Institute of Teaching and Education and has an interest in LGBTQ+ inclusion in education, working with LGBTed as part of their Steering Group.

Nick joins us to discuss his work in making schools more LGBTQ+ Inclusive, his recent contribution to the Diverse Educators: A Manifesto book, as well as a fascination discussion about professional identity.

We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode and you can also follow us on Twitter @PrideProgress and Nick @NBentleyTweets. Thanks for listening!

This week we are joined by an incredible educator, researcher and activist, Charlotte Feather! Charlotte uses she/her pronouns and is the founder of the LGBTQ Primary Hub: a website which aims to enhance the delivery of LGBTQ+ inclusive education in primary schools by providing teachers with the support they need. 

Charlotte has just completed her Masters, with research focusing on the experience of queer early career teachers, and is now an academic tutor with the University of Sunderland running one of the UKs only Gender and Diversity University Modules.

She joins us this week to talk all things LGBT+ education, and shares some fascinating insights from her research.

We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode and you can also follow us on Twitter @PrideProgress and Charlotte @MissFeather_.  Thanks for listening!

This week we speak with the brilliant Daniel Tomlinson-Gray (he/him). Daniel is a secondary teacher and co-founder and director of the fantastic LGBTed (https://outteacher.org).

In this episode we discuss the origins of LGBTed, the amazing work they do through their Proud Leadership programme, and the inspiring book, edited by Daniel: Big Gay Adventures in Education: Supporting LGBT+ Visibility and Inclusion in Education (https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/036789422X/ref=cm_sw_r_oth_api_i_8Y15YVSARC87T87K1E9X).

We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode and you can also follow us on Twitter @PrideProgress, and LGBTed @LGBTedUK. Thanks for listening!

This week we are joined by the inspirational Bennie Kara (she/her). In this packed episode, we discuss Bennie's journey from Teach First all the way to senior leadership, how her intersectional identity led to the birth of Diverse Educators, and the success of her fantastic book, Diversity in Schools (available here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/a-little-guide-for-teachers-diversity-in-schools/bennie-kara/9781529718546).

Bennie is the master of a metaphor and we can't stop thinking about her amazing 'labels have care instructions' analogy!

We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode and you can also follow us on Twitter @PrideProgress, and Bennie @benniekara.

Thanks for listening!

This week we speak with two brilliant LGBTQ+ role models: Edel Cronin (she/her) & Aaron Brooks (he/him). In their school in Bristol, Edel and Aaron run a LGBTQ+ club for students which has grown to change the attitudes of their entire school. 

In this episode, Edel and Aaron share practical tips on LGBTQ+ clubs in school, queer inclusive curriculum, and LGBTQ+ leadership. They work together, and achieve fantastic things in their school. They share their work so freely on twitter - so do follow them to support your work in school! 

We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode, you can also follow us on twitter @PrideProgress, Edel (@MsE_Cronin), and Aaron (@english_brooks). 

This week we speak with Helen Richardson (she/her), a brilliant Deputy Headteacher of a large primary school in Nottingham. Helen started working on anti-racism at her school, which later developed into all things diversity, where she was nominated to lead the diversity network for her school’s Trust.

From there, Helen joined the Nottingham City Equality Action Team where she’s working with Directors of Education, Nottingham Citizens and MATs across Nottingham to improve the diversity of the curriculum and recruitment and retention of black and global majority teachers.

In this episode, Helen discusses her experiences of growing up during Section 28, the amazing work she does with diversity and the curriculum... and receiving a 'coming out pot plant'!

We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode, and you can follow us on Twitter @prideprogress and Helen @DiversityDeputy.

Thanks for listening!

This week, in our penultimate episode of the series, we speak with the fabulous Scotty Cartwright (he/him/they/them). Scotty is a trainee English teacher and joins us to discuss how his degree in stand up comedy helped him prepare for the classroom, his experiences of joining the profession as an LGBT+ teacher, and the amazing work he is doing to celebrate and promote diversity in his school.

We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode, and you can follow us on Twitter @PrideProgress, and Scott @_MrSTCartwright. Thanks for listening!

This week we speak with a truly inspirational educator, Hannah Wilson (she/her). Hannah is a former headteacher, and the co-founder of #WomenEd and #DiverseEd. Diverse Educators offers an amazing array of resources, training, support and blogs which you can access at www.diverseeducators.co.uk. 

We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode, and you can follow us on Twitter @PrideProgress, and Hannah @Ethical_Leader. Thanks for listening!

This week we speak with the amazing Adam Breslin (he/him), whose PhD research focuses on LGBTQ+ rights and activism within education.   

In this episode, Adam leads a fascinating conversation about the power that every teacher, child, and young person has to change the world through small acts of gentle activism. 

We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode, and you can follow us on Twitter @prideprogress, and Adam @AdBPhD1.  Thanks for listening!

This week we are joined by the awesome Eilidh Vizard (she/her). Eilidh is a secondary Science teacher who is passionate about representing both women and LGBT+ in STEM subjects. In this episode we discuss gendered language, being a STEM and LGBT+ role model... and perhaps most importantly, Eilidh's gorgeous cat Rupert (check out the picture on Twitter!).

We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode, and you can follow us on Twitter @prideprogress.  Thanks for listening!

This week we speak with the inspirational Kyrstie Stubbs (she/her). 

Kyrstie is the Principal at Boothroyd Primary, an incredible Academy that approach diversity, equity and inclusion in a truly holistic way. DEI is a golden thread that runs through all aspects of Boothroyd Primary -  you can check out some of the amazing work being done here: http://www.boothroydprimaryacademy.co.uk.

In this episode, Kyrstie talks about how she sees creating a culture and ethos of inclusion as her moral duty, and shares some fantastic stories and examples about how she and the school have done this, and the lasting impact it has had.

We hope you enjoy listening to Kyrstie's story as much as we did. We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode and you can get in touch on Twitter @PrideProgress, and with Kyrstie @KyrstieStubbs. Thanks for listening!

This week we speak with Karan Bhumbla (he/him) who shares his experiences as a gay, Indian, Science teacher.

Born in India, Karan later moved to Canada and now lives in the UK where he is a Science teacher, Head of Year and Lead Practitioner at an all boys Academy.

In this episode we discuss what it was like to grow up gay in India, the importance of being a role model, intersectionality and the challenges and rewards of working in an all boys school.

We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode, and you can follow us on Twitter @prideprogress, and Karan @MrBhumbla.

Thanks for listening!

This week we speak with the wonderful B (they/them) who shares their experiences as a non-binary educator. 

In this episode we discuss gender, binaries in education, and how to make educational spaces more inclusive for trans people. 

We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode, and you can follow us on Twitter @prideprogress, and B @guerriero_b.

Thanks for listening!

This week we speak with Just Like Us CEO, Dominic Arnall (he/him).

Just Like Us is an LGBT+ young people's charity who's mission is to empower young people to champion LGBT+ equality. Just Like Us want all young people to know that being LGBT+ is something to be celebrated!

In this episode, we speak about the great work that Just Like Us do to support LGBT+ young people and schools. Just Like Us provide a range of resources and support that we highly recommend, including their Ambassador and Pride Group programmes. They also run School Diversity Week, which this year takes place from 21st to the 25th of June. Signing up is free and you will be sent a toolkit of resources suitable for your school and key stage: https://www.justlikeus.org/school-diversity-week.

We love to hear your feedback, so please rate and review this episode. You can get in touch on Twitter @PrideProgress, and with Dominic @Dominicarnall and Just Like Us @JustLikeUsUK

Thanks for listening!

Welcome to a new podcast called Pride and Progress! 

Pride and Progress celebrates the amazing work being done to make educational spaces more LGBT+ inclusive. Each week we speak with a range of LGBT+ educators, allies and activists and hear their incredible stories of progress. 

In this first short episode, we introduce ourselves as your hosts and talk about some of the fantastic upcoming guests we have for this series. 

We hope you enjoy listening to this series as much as we enjoyed recording it.

You can let us know your thoughts on Twitter @prideprogress. 

Thanks for listening!