The Importance of Visibility for All
Guest blog by Troy Jenkinson, Children's author, EDI Specialist, Advisor and Global Equality Collective expert
Troy Jenkinson shares his lived experience and the importance of being your authentic self when working in education settings and beyond. By not hiding his own sexuality, he successfully communicates to students and colleagues that it is ok to be who you are. The ripple effect created by this authenticity gives permission to others to reveal their true selves and goes some way to address the imbalances still present in society even today.
Who am I? - This past year has led to me doing a lot of soul searching, having taken time out to heal at the end of 2022, having completely burned out. The role of headteacher/school leader/teacher is challenging, just like many other roles in society, yet there are many rewards too. Teaching for me was a vocation, something I knew I was born to do; I remember lining my teddies up as a youngster, taking the register and mimicking the wonderful teachers who had the pleasure (or misfortune depending upon how they might see it) of having me in their class. As I reflect on why I became an educator, I understand I was one of the lucky ones; able enough to navigate a system that was not able to fully represent all those chugging through the outdated machine designed to churn out a workforce for yesterday.
Surviving Section 28 - We sometimes need to take stock and re-evaluate what is important in life. I learned a great deal about myself as a result of this. I came to realise the challenges I overcame in the first place to get to the privileged position of school leader. Overcoming the legacy of Section 28 (an abhorrent amendment to the Local Authority Act introduced by Prime Minister Margeret Thatcher in 1988 that banned the “promotion of homosexuality” in schools until 2003) first-hand, as a student; not having the role-models I should have been able to look up to. Overcoming the loneliness and isolation this brought. Overcoming the fear of “being caught” as I embarked on my journey to become a teacher in a church school. Looking back, I was not the queer role model I should have been in the early days of my career for fear of retribution. I’m not proud of this but I understand why I took the necessary steps to lead in effect what was a double life.
I eventually took the tentative steps of “coming out” to staff in the early days of my school leadership but was still afraid of being “too visible” in other areas of my job. As I moved into my final school-leadership role, seeing how hard some of the stakeholders had to fight, gave me the confidence to finally say, enough is enough. Why should someone feel the need to be ashamed of who they are? Everyone, regardless of gender, race, sexuality, indeed any of the protected characteristics (and more not identified by the Equality Act), deserves the right to feel safe, feel loved, feel valued.
Opportunities & Story Writing
Being part of my last school gave me many opportunities I may never have had, ranging from working with Stonewall, unions and the BBC to such talented individuals as Andrew Moffatt and Olly Pike. (The list of opportunities is exhausting as there are too many people to name personally). Indeed, it was here I began writing stories for assemblies to give a voice to those who didn’t have representation in stories. I got into publishing by accident; during one such assembly another teacher saw the potential in a story I had written to support a child with same-sex parents, “The Best Mummy Snails in the Whole Wide World.” After much work, the story has gained a life of its own!
Troy Jenkinson with his books
“Mummy Snails…” led to “The Most Contented Snail in the Whole Wide World” that sees the baby snails going to school and meeting a slug that wanted to be a snail, giving representation to the trans community. Earlier this year, my third book (diversifying from snails), “The Most Flamboyant Flamingo in the Whole Wide World” was launched as one of very few (if any) picture books for children with a bisexual central character.
I am now privileged to work with a great many different schools (venturing into secondary too!) as well as the corporate world of business. Developing more stories, bespoke training packages, leading key notes and facilitating workshops, I know am fortunate to work with fresh new groups of people entering the wonderful profession that is education (both undergraduates and teachers at the start of their careers as well as experienced staff). I have opportunities far beyond the walls of one school and feel I can influence more young people’s minds to become the queer role model I never had as a child growing up. And for some of those who are parenting children who may be questioning, I am able to offer support and guidance I know my parents would have really appreciated.
Why is it important to be your authentic self?
It is important to recognise why we need to have celebratory months and days such as LGBT+ History Month and Transgender Awareness Day to support those who may be, or feel, marginalised. Whether it be due to race or cultural heritage, religion, (dis)ability, gender, sexuality or any protected characteristic recognised by the UK’s Equality Act 2010 or those characteristics not defined as part of this law such as social class, visibility for all is paramount.
Black History Month - Despite the introduction of Black History Month (back in 1976 in the United States and 1987 in the UK), there continues to be disproportionate numbers of people being racially discriminated against. Many countries observe Black History Month including Canada, Germany, France and from 2020, some countries in Africa, yet we still witness injustices occurring.
International Women’s Day - March 8th was International Women’s Day. Though it was adopted by the United Nations in 1975, its history can be traced back as far as 1909 in America. Few people, though, realise the date’s significance links to a demonstration by Russian textile workers in Petrograd (1917) that led to Tsar Nicholas II’s abdication, resulting in women being given the right to vote across the nation. Despite the day’s prominence however, there is still a significant gender pay inequality, not only here in the UK (there was a 15.5% difference in hourly rates in 2020 between men and women, Statista, 2023*). Not only that, the proportion of female CEOs is still comparatively extremely low (21 women CEOs in the FTSE 250 companies in the UK, Statista, May 2023*).
While many protected characteristics are visible, others including sexuality are less apparent unless individuals feel comfortable enough to be open. Contrary to some historical anecdotes, sexuality is not a choice. The choice was to hide ones’ being to evade persecution. Nowhere was this seen more than in the UK’s education system during the infamous period of Section 28 (discussed earlier). Borne out of ignorance to protect family values, it did quite the opposite and resulted in many people supressing their feelings, resulting in mental health difficulties and in some extreme cases, suicide. In the UK, LGBT History Month is in February to coincide with the repealing of Section 28. Despite it being over 20 years ago, we still see the effects today. Years of suppression takes its toll.
People should not have to suppress who they are. Effectively, if you expend energy suppressing who you are, you are wasting the “vital oomph” that you could be channelling into more productive outcomes; in teaching for example – enhancing provision for your students. As a consequence of being your authentic self, you are also saying to students “Its ok to be you.” A ripple effect is caused by giving permission to others to not have to hide. Even today, many LGBTQ students feel the need to hide their sexuality, sometimes “returning to the closet” as they go to university, for fear of repression.
Transphobia -With significant anti-trans rhetoric across the media/social media at present, alongside the UK Government’s consultation on “Gender Questioning Children” (DfE, December 2023) that has just closed (March 2024), it is important that we continue to unite against discrimination of any kind. Indeed, we must remind ourselves this document is “guidance” only and non-statutory as elements of it have been questioned as to whether they abide by the Equality Act (2010) itself.
Takeaways
So, while we need to still have LGBT History Month to help readdress both historical and current imbalances, we should also try to be our authentic selves as far as possible; not just for ourselves but for others too! We need to learn from the mistakes in history. This is why I feel passionate enough to encourage and empower others to be visible and be the best version of themselves that they can.
Only by being your authentic self, can you allow others to be their authentic selves. Together we can educate those who bully and belittle minority groups to foster inclusivity.
Troy Jenkinson
Children's author, EDI Specialist, Advisor and Global Equality Collective expert
References:
“Number of Female CEOs at FTSE companies, UK” Statista, 2023 (link accessed 26th Jan 2024)
“Gender Questioning Children Non-Statutory Guidance” DFE, December 2023 (link accessed 27th Jan 2024)
LGBTQ Walking Tour of Nottingham, Jenkinson, 2022 (link accessed 27th Jan 2024)
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