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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