On 1st of February 2024 Diversity Role Models celebrated 10 years of providing impactful diversity, equality and inclusion anti-bullying workshops in the North West. Celebrating at the Hilton in Liverpool, Carla, a local primary school teacher and long-standing supporter of our work gave an impactful speech talking about the importance of inclusive education.
This School Diversity Week we share her speech as inspiration to other teachers, educators, school governors, parents and anyone else who works to make schools and classrooms a space where everyone embraces diversity and can thrive.
Carla's speech
Good evening to all, our honoured guests, and advocates for equality.
Today, we gather here not just as individuals but as a united force for love, acceptance, and equal rights. It is an honour for me to stand before you and address the importance of recognising and embracing the diverse and vibrant spectrum of identities, particularly those within the LGBTQ+ community.
Diversity Role Models play a valued and integral role within our school, set within the heart of North Liverpool.
We have a wonderful partnership with Diversity Role Models, Kate Hutchinson and team, where Role Models deliver a variety of sessions celebrating different types of families. Across the years we have focused on a beautiful tree, what families need, creating the roots, the basic foundations, to the branches representing different families.
Diversity Role Models have also provided workshops for parents and carers, staff training and more recently delivered Lego workshops for our children focusing on celebrating all our differences. The children and staff in particular adore the book which was shared by Diversity Role Models, ‘And Tango Makes Three’.
As a result, we have set up diversity reading areas in school with an array of books for children and staff to access to celebrate our families.
In our journey towards progress, we must acknowledge that every individual has the right to love whom they choose and to be true to themselves without fear of discrimination or prejudice. The LGBTQ+ community has long fought for acceptance and equality, and it is our collective responsibility to stand beside each other in this pursuit.
Our society is enriched by its diversity, and the LGBTQ+ community is an integral part of that diversity. Each person, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, brings unique talents, perspectives, and contributions to the table.
By fostering an inclusive environment in our schools that celebrates these differences, we strengthen the fabric of our society and move closer to the ideals of equality and justice.
It is crucial that we challenge and dismantle the barriers that prevent LGBTQ+ individuals from enjoying the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. Discrimination, whether overt or subtle, has no place in a just and compassionate society. We must advocate for equal access to education, employment, healthcare, and all other aspects of life.
But beyond measures, Diversity Role Models work extend to the hearts and minds of individuals. Working together, we must continue to strive to create communities that embrace diversity and cultivate understanding. Education plays a vital role in dispelling myths and stereotypes, promoting empathy, and fostering acceptance. By continuing to empower individuals and our children with knowledge, we lay the foundation for a more inclusive and tolerant society.
It's important to recognise the progress we have made, but there is still work to be done. We must continue to amplify the voices of the marginalised, support LGBTQ+ organisations, and engage in open conversations to dispel ignorance and prejudice. By doing so, we build bridges of understanding and unity that will carry us towards a future where love is celebrated in all its forms.
By continuing the work we do in schools with Diversity Role Models, together, we can create a space where every individual, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, can live authentically and without fear. The journey towards a more inclusive society is ongoing, and our collective efforts today will pave the way for a brighter and more equitable tomorrow. On behalf of Gwladys Street Primary School, thank you to Kate Hutchison and all the team at Diversity Role Models.
Find out more about our school and classroom workshops, and make a booking here.
