#TIE

May 17th. Today is the International Day Against Homophobia, Transophobia and Biphobia. There have been events to raise awareness of LGBT rights around the world since May 17th 1990, the day a wise decision was made: to remove homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization (WHO). But the question here is, if homophobia is still a thing in our society, how do we teach our learners that homosexuality is nothing but love?

Teachers should bear in mind that what they have to do at schools is not to impose ways of thinking, but teach the importance of values, and raising awareness to treat others as equals is the best way to do it. They should be able to monitor situations of homophobia inside the classroom and ALWAYS protect those young people and make everyone feel comfortable at the same time.

Today I asked my teen students (13-14-15 years old) what they thought about this, and they made jokes with subtle meaning, but still cooperated and spoke about the nonsense of the discrimination over people who love other people (because homosexuality is just that: love). 'Why should they be judged for whom they love?', Candela wondered.

#TIE Campaing wonders the same, that is why they struggle to make inclusive education in Scotland. You can visit their web page to get updated and find resources, or look up the tag #TIE (Time for Inclusive Education) on Twitter and Facebook.

And remember Nelson Mandela's words: 'Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world'.