How to be a better LGBTQI+ ally interactive resource
3 minute read
Pride is a time for everyone to reflect on the progress we have made towards LGBTQI+ equality and to acknowledge that we have the responsibility to do more. The LGBTQI+ community still faces unacceptable stigma and discrimination on a daily basis. To help inform and educate everyone about how to be more supportive, the Open University worked with Elucidat to create a ‘How to be a better LGBTQI+ ally’ interactive project, with a key focus on LGBTQI+ young people.
How to be a better LGBTQI+ ally
Pride month celebrates the work of LGBTQI+ people, education in LGBTQI+ history and is about acceptance and equality. But it is important that it also acts as a stark reminder of the issues affecting the LGBTQI+ community. It is vital that everyone remembers how damaging homophobia was and still is, to understand how we can all be more open and understanding to everyone.
It is always important to understand the emotions, thoughts and feelings of the LGBTQI+ community. And how everyone, but particularly those who do not present themselves in this way, can be supportive and inform themselves of how to be a better LGBTQI+ ally.
This interactive is based on the real-life experiences of LGBTQI+ young people from Free2B Alliance, METRO Charity, and Mosaic LGBT+ Young Persons’ Trust. It aims to help you become more aware of the issues facing LGBTQI+ youth today, as well as giving advice on how you can put being an ally into practice. As it can be easy for people to fall into the trap of being a bystander in certain group situations.
The ‘How to be a better LGBTQI+ Ally’ interactive, initiated by the Open University, was shortlisted in the Online Education Resource category for the Learning on Screen Awards 2022.
“LGBTQI+ young people are often bullied and trans young people are at particular risk of being mistreated. So we worked with LGBTQI+ youth to create this immersive educational interactive, because young people were keen to share their experiences and co-create this novel tool. The interactive aims to support adults, including teachers, to better understand LGBTQI+ youth and instruct them on how they can become better allies to these young people.” Dr Mathijs Lucassen PhD SFHEA, Senior Lecturer in Mental Health, The Open University
What learning design approaches have been used?
This project uses a series of interactive scenario chapters to tell the story of a situation faced by a LGBTQI+ young person. By the end of the interactive, the aim is to have helped learners become more aware of the issues faced in this community and to have provided practical advice so learners can start taking action by being an ally.
It does this by:
- Using storytelling techniques and immersive video drama to encourage empathy.
- Asking reflective questions to get the learner considering the actions they would have taken in response to the situations being discussed.
- Diving deeper into the story by sharing character thoughts and advice from experts.
- Using Elucidat’s social polling feature to create connections between learners and demonstrate the different confidence levels people may feel in relation to being an LGBTQI+ youth ally.
Finally, learners get answers to common questions about being an ally and steps to take to be a better ally today.
Summary
It is vital that everyone can be supportive and inform themselves of how to be a better LGBTQI+ ally. This interactive supports everyone to become more aware of the issues facing LGBTQI+ youth today, as well as giving advice on how you can put being an ally into practice.
