5.5.
RFSL; School information about homosexuality (Skolinformations)
Peer group education by a non-governmental organisation
in Sweden
The Swedish Federation for
Gay/Lesbian Rights (Riksforbundet for Sexuellt Likaberattigande,
RFSL) recruited young members to carry out the information
part and a co-ordinator.
The start
RFSL felt there was a need for the
already existing information about homosexuality,
to be complemented since the literature was often
of poor quality and teachers often lacked sufficient
knowledge to give appropriate information about the
topic.
Target group
The main target group were
young students between the age of fourteen to eighteen.
(There are however exceptions such as university students,
school staff and other groups working with young people.)
Place of the project
At present, information is
concentrated to the main cities in Sweden but RFSL
strives to cover other areas as well, most sessions
take place in schools. Sometimes students come to
the RFSL premises. Occasionally sessions take place
in youth centres or in the premises of youth clubs/organisations.
Access to the target group
Initially RFSL offered their
services directly to schools and spread information
through other institutions who also have contact with
schools. At present schools contact RFSL for information,
all "marketing" and bookings are made by
the co-ordinator.
Outline of the methodology and description
of one particular session
Information is often given during
respective schools thematic working days or weeks
when students learn about and discuss love, sex, relationships
and contraceptives. Informants work in pairs; one
male and one female. The duration of the sessions
vary between 40 to 80 minutes per group. Ideally the
groups are no larger than 30 people in each group.
An introduction is given for 10 to 20 minutes (depending
on the amount of time available ). At this point a
very short introduction to RFSL is made and a brief
presentation of the informants. Some terms and expressions
are explained and a very brief description of the
general situation for 'queers' is made (a few words
about the legal situation, that many queers choose
to conceal their sexual orientation, the situation
for 'queers' from an international and historical
perspective.
After the introduction part many
schools prefer to split the group into two groups;
one male and one female. If this is the case, the
informants take one group each and switch groups after
half of the remaining time in order to allow both
groups to meet a male and a female informant. Regardless
whether the group is split or not the floor is now
opened for questions and general discussion. The students
are allowed to ask general and personal questions.
Rather than restricting the questions the informants
will explain to the group that a question is too personal
to answer. Generally, most questions are answered.
According to clients wishes and needs, the information
can be altered to focus more on youth issues, women's
issues, men's issues, immigrant's issues, HIV/AIDS
etc. Typical questions are: "What did your
parents and friends say when you told them you are
gay?", "How do you have sex?", "How
do other people treat you when they find out you are
gay?", "What if you want to have children?",
"Are you not afraid of AIDS?"
The best and worst moments of the
project
The best moments are when
the informants have been able to "sow thought
seeds" for the students to reflect upon and when
'queer' students have found encouragement in the information
to "come out" and get in touch with other
'queer' youth. The worst moments are when faced with
bigot teachers who insist on theoretical discussions
which students cannot follow. (These teachers are
often asked to leave the session.) Facing students
with fascist and religious fanatical ideas is never
pleasant either.
Training of informants
All informants are given training
this takes place during three evening sessions and
a full weekend and seeks to give the future informants
knowledge about homosexuality, young people in general,
'queer' history and information methodology.
When this part of the training is
completed, the informants accompany experienced informants
to schools on at least three different occasions before
they go out on their own. Follow - up meetings are
held on a regular basis and often in connection with
a guest speaker on a relevant topic.
Results and impact
As the project aims at giving
information it is very difficult to evaluate the results
and impact. The RFSL however believes this is one
way to demystify homosexuality and a contribution
in the struggle against prejudice and intolerance.
It is not always easy to get people
to feel comfortable discussing matters relating to
sexuality. You may find that the activity, "Let's
talk about sex" in Compass helpful in this
matter.
For further information contact:
Website in Swedish: http://www.rfsl.se/stockholm
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