Invisible Boundaries: Addressing Sexualities Equality in Children's Worlds

Children's experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender identities in their families, communities, personal lives and schools were explored by researchers, practitioners, interest groups, policy makers and young people in this exciting and innovative project. They came together over 18 months until May 2007 and this book tells the stories that emerged. The narrative and analysis opens a new arena for those working with children and presents: new ways of conceptualising and overcoming homophobia and transphobia in educational settings; ideas about how to translate policy supporting sexualities equality into the experiences of children and their families; the voices of young LGBT people speaking about their experiences of childhood; fresh insights for people who work with children and may not have considered the importance and implications of sexualities equality for children's lives; and, a vital contribution to building a fairer society.The contributors include Mark Jennett, author of "Stand up for us", the British government guidelines on challenging homophobia in schools; Stephen Whittle, trans activist and professor of equalities law; members of Lesbian and Gay Youth Manchester; members of the No Outsiders research team challenging homophobia in primary schools; Sue Sanders, co-chair of Schools Out and teacher David Watkins. This is an important book for anyone living or working with children: parents, teachers, community workers, voluntary workers, and all those brought under the broad scope of children's services across the UK, and equivalent services elsewhere. It brings together the voices of people from many sectors who realise the urgency of addressing issues of sexualities equality as early as possible in young children's lives.

About the Author :
Renee DePalma of the University of Sunderland has written extensively on equality and inclusion and is Senior Researcher for the ESRC-funded project No Outsiders: Researching Approaches to Sexualities Equality in Primary Schools. Elizabeth Atkinson has published widely on equality and human rights, with special interest in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. She is Director of the No Outsiders research project, and was convenor of the ESRC-funded seminar series, Invisible Boundaries: Addressing sexualities equality in children's worlds, from which this book has arisen. Elizabeth is series co-editor of Trentham's Discourse, Power, Resistance series.

Review :
"This is a book that everyone working with children and young people should read. There is a balance of education, gender and sexualities. The messages for educationalists and practitioners are clear and positive in working towards inclusion of LGBT issues in education, and are balanced with academic investigation, evidence and discussion." -- Dave Clarke Gender and Education, Volume 21, Issue 5, 2009