Vancouver, BC—It may have become a common phrase in use amongst school children and teenagers, but words like "that's so gay!" can also be extremely hurtful—especially if you are a gay, lesbian, or transgendered student. Out in Schools, an innovative program that smashes stereotypes by taking queer film to local high schools and facilitating discussions on bullying and homophobia, is gearing up for a new school year with a new website at www.outinschools.com and even more outreach initiatives than in previous years.

"There is a huge need for the kind of education Out in Schools provides," says project coordinator Ross Johnstone, who heads up the program and leads the discussion groups. "Last year we showed 42 films and made presentations to over 1900 students in the province. Each year we see an increase in the number of presentations and we have even had requests from as far away as Newfoundland for the type of program we offer." This year Johnstone is planning on training additional peer facilitators to reach even more students and Out in Schools is also in the process of developing lesson plans for Planning Ten, a mandatory life skills class for all BC students touching on a range of topics including health issues such as interpersonal relationships and self-esteem. Participating in curriculum development is an integral step in addressing issues of homophobia in schools and Vancouver educational consultant Jody Polukoshko has high praise for the work of Out in Schools and its parent organization Out On Screen: "[They] work with youth in a way that addresses their critical capacity to respond to their communities [that] captures their imagination and encourages students to take action on issues that relate to heterosexism and homophobia, and [it] has long distinguished itself as an organization committed to community input and consultation, open dialogue with participants and educational stakeholders and educational goals."

Begun as a pilot project in 2004 as part of parent organization Out On Screen's community outreach to take films made by and for youth to the students themselves, the overriding goal of Out in Schools is to give youth a safe space to explore issues around bullying and stereotypes. Former Out in Schools committee student member Anne Ling, who participated in the program from its inception, describes the impact of the program on her life: "I [saw] that my peers lack[ed] knowledge of queer society, which created discrimination and alienation. I personally know the violence and the cruelty of the uneducated. Out in Schools has become an important part of my life and watching it come alive amazes me." Johnstone sums up the entire reason for the program, "We aim to make schools safer by celebrating diversity."

For complete information on the program including how schools can book a screening; teacher, student, and community resources; information on how to volunteer or to donate to the program; testimonials, and more, go to http://www.outinschools.com.

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