High School Students Network and Arcigay: "Education projects about diversity are needed to prevent and combat bullying and homophobia."“
During the elections for the renewal of the student body on the School Council of a high school in Pavia, an episode of homophobic bullying occurred against a student running for representative. During the counting of the votes, several ballots were found bearing insults directed at the student in question. The students in the class from which the ballots were obtained were immediately questioned, and some of the perpetrators came forward. The school's president subsequently ordered suspension from school activities for some of them as a punitive sanction. Furthermore, at the suggestion of several student representatives, the president welcomed the idea of implementing the existing projects on respect and diversity education, in collaboration with Arcigay Pavia "Coming-aut," in order to prevent and combat future incidents of bullying like this.
Declares Alberto Irone from the High School Students NetworkThis episode of homophobic bullying is extremely serious. It's clear that even today, schools cannot be safe from discrimination and bullying. The propaganda of those who brandish the ghost of gender theory only heightens tensions among the many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students who attend our schools. It's positive that the school approves the idea of launching projects with Arcigay that teach students to respect all differences. We believe that a school that welcomes everyone is an important training ground for civic culture.”
“Homophobia is one of the most recurring phenomena in Italian schools,” he insists. Flavio Romani, president of Arcigay. "Therefore, the school principal did well to severely punish the incident and to hold the school itself accountable for the phenomenon. Knowledge breaks down prejudices, which are the basis for exclusion and violence, whether verbal or physical. This is why interventions in schools are needed, and for this we await the resumption of a strong and structured collaboration with the Ministry of Education, University and Research to jointly combat the forms of bullying and discrimination that are still too present in our schools.".
Bologna, November 5, 2015
