I was pleased you covered the launch of the Challenging Homophobia toolkit (February 13). But I was dismayed that your reporter chose to concentrate on the negative aspects of my presentation. It is true our pupils said that coming out at school would not be a good idea, but he omitted to say that the same pupils said they would feel proud that a friend had trusted them with this information and would accept them.
I was sorry also not to see any mention of the positive effect the theatre production of Fit, written by Rikki Beadle-Blair, had on the same pupils. I devoted a large part of my presentation to this and on what we do as a guidance team to challenge homophobia. The production went ahead despite my colleague’s objection. I stated that response had been very enthusiastic from all the members of staff who saw it.
As a teacher, I am aware that homo-phobia is alive and well in our schools, but I feel I provided positive examples in my presentation that seemed to have escaped your notice. It is not helpful to ignore the work schools are doing to challenge homophobia.
Stephen Gellaitry, Prince Regent Street, Edinburgh.