Opinion|Schools need to celebrate diversity, especially in times of resistance

On Purple Friday, which falls on the second Friday of December, schools pay attention to sexual and gender diversity and the ability to be yourself. And that is important because LGBTQIA+ people have higher chances of experiencing psychological symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts, than others. Symptoms like these can already arise at a young age. ’In times of a perceived rise in resistance, schools must show that they stand behind their LGBTQIA+ pupils and, where possible, offer them even more support,’ says Diana van Bergen, associate professor of Suicide and Suicide Prevention among Youth at the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences at the University of Groningen.
_{Written down by Marrit Wouda, Corporate Communication UG}

Gesture of support

’Purple Friday is a very strong signal; as a school, you’re thereby indicating that you stand behind your LGBTQIA+ pupils. It’s often a very festive day, during which diversity is celebrated. In this way, you’re showing a gesture of support to these young people. LGBTQIA+ youth often feel like they're alone, that they’re different, and that they don’t belong. Besides family and sports clubs, school is a place that holds great influence. It’s the place where young people spend most of their time and have the majority of their social interactions. Cases of bullying in this context therefore have a tremendous impact. We know that if you’re bullied at school as an LGBTQIA+ pupil, you need extremely supportive parents to compensate for that. Children take on the negativity they experience, such as stupid jokes about LGBTQIA+ people told by their peers or even by teachers. And when they develop feelings and realize that these jokes were about them, that’s an extremely negative way to learn about your own identity.’

Irritating people with inclusion

‘Some schools may think that Purple Friday creates resistance and that they’d be better off not doing it. I find that very weak. In my view, you need to better explain to parents and pupils why you’re doing it and what it means. Find out where that resistance is coming from. If people are so irritated by LGBTQIA+ inclusion, explain to them what it's like to feel that your future won’t look like that of the people around you, and how very lonely that can make someone feel. The so-called Spring Fever Week (Week van Lentekriebels) already showed us that some people simply have the wrong ideas; some parents heard that their children might be indoctrinated to become LGBTQIA+ on Purple Friday. For those who don’t know much about it, that may be a plausible story, but it’s really utter nonsense.’

Experimenting

‘Is there anything true to that? Well, if you learn about sexual and gender diversity, you might be more tempted to think about your own identity. But you’d only be thinking about it at an earlier stage; you’d have realized it later on, anyway. Nowadays, young people start thinking about it earlier, experiment at a younger age, and then realize their identities earlier on. That makes LGBTQIA+ identities more visible, but it doesn’t mean that children are “infecting” each other or that it’s a trend. If you hear about LGBTQIA+ people but aren’t questioning whether you’re actually heterosexual or cisgender, then these stories won’t resonate with you. I’d invite you all to spend one day at a secondary school. Just look at the ridicule and mockery that trans and non-binary pupils face at school. If it were all a choice, you certainly wouldn’t choose that as a 13-year-old.

Standing against resistance

‘In short, Purple Friday is even more important when there’s resistance. And ideally, schools should be doing even more. Make sure it doesn’t just stop at one day; embed diversity and inclusion into the curriculum. Ensure that your teaching staff support the message and set a good example. Set up a GSA, or Gender and Sexuality Alliance, at your school, where heterosexual and LGBTQIA+ pupils can jointly strive for a safe school environment. And, above all, make sure that it isn’t only about negativity; let Purple Friday be a celebratory day where everyone can be themselves. That’s a tough challenge, but just because it’s difficult, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try.’

More information

• Diana van Bergen
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