Doug PollardShe's Going to Rio!!
Pride in Rio
A PLEA FOR HELP
Last month I received a request for help. Tiffany Jones, Research, PhD Student, Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University wrote:
"My findings were clear: in education sectors where there were clear antihomophobia policies there were more school-level policies, less violence against GLBTIQ students, less suicide and self-harm amongst these students."
After detailing the figures, she explained that her work had come to the attention of UNESCO - and they wanted to hear more.
"I presented this research at a conference in Canberra for which I had gained a scholarship. There, I believe a United Nations representative saw the research, because I have been emailed the attached invitation to the first ever International Consultation on Homophobic Bullying by UNESCO (the UN's education wing).
"They are consulting with governments around the world, researchers and community bodies on homophobic bullying in schools, with a view to developing policy in this area. I believe I am the only student to have been invited, which is incredible.
"My findings about the value of policy would go a long way to convincing UNESCO of the value of issuing an international anti-homophobia education policy, but moreover of including specific types of policies that had the best results (the ones with specific topics covered, a "safe schools" approach using particular anti-homophobia themes and reasonings as opposed to a more general "inclusion" policy and so on, and ones that specifically dealth with gender identity as gender diverse students suffered the greatest violence)."
But the Consultation will take place in Rio, and on a student budget, Tiffany just couldn't raise enough cash. So she turned to The Rainbow Report on Joy 94.9 Melbourne for help.
YOU MADE IT HAPPEN!
Two weeks ago we broadcast an interview with Tiffany in which she spoke passionately about her work: and the wonderful listeners of the Rainbow Report responded - and now she's going to Rio!!
SHE'S GOING TO RIO - THANKS TO YOU
Hi Doug,
I just wanted to let you know that I am going to Rio!!! The community really got behind this venture and I got so many emails and offers of help after the radio interview, thank you so much!
Plus, when I let UNESCO know how much La Trobe and members of the community had contributed, they assisted as well and now the flights are booked and this is really happening!!!
I just want to say we have a great community that is very passionate about seeing young people becoming protected from homophobic bullying at school, and everyone is really supportive of getting the policy research I have done into the right hands at UNESCO.
I hope we will see some policy and some action change from these meetings in December, and will not take this opportunity to advocate for the value of policies lightly.
Thanks for your help,
Tiffany
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
