To celebrate 10 years of real change in schools around Australia, Daniel Witthaus is launching a ‘Talk To Your Local School and Library’ Campaign:  End Homophobia Now.  Pride & Prejudice, the only formally evaluated educational package for everyday schools, has changed the attitudes and homo-aggressive behaviours of 1000s and 1000s of students in every corner of Australia since its launch in 2002.

Pride & Prejudice is an easy-to-follow, interactive six-week program that gets students talking.  It doesn’t hide behind broader terms like bullying, diversity and safety, or rely only on posters and stickers alone.  It provides real examples of lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

Pride & Prejudice, and the book it inspired, Beyond ‘That’s So Gay’, go beyond talk and awareness-raising.  Both the popular resources provide teachers, health professionals and homophobia-curious others with strategies they can use in their classrooms and schoolyards immediately.  Not when it gets better.  Now.  They are available here: 10 Year Combined.

People motivated to end homophobia in schools have reported success when they approach their local school and library to ask a simple question: ‘Do you have this resource?’  Most find that the schools and libraries are quick to get the resources to use for educators and to display for library users.

Please take the time to drink one cuppa and read this short document:  End Homophobia Now.  If you can take action, please do.  Importantly, please consider passing this on to 3-5 people in your networks who could also take action: Pride & Prejudice/Beyond ‘That’s So Gay’ Special.

Oh, and wish Pride & Prejudice a happy 10th birthday in changing the way that we think about homophobia in everyday schools.

Thanks for your time.

This is an article about the post-Marriage Equality Defeat Blues, contributed to new site: The Stirrer.

Read by clicking here: http://www.thestirrer.com.au/getting-back-into-the-fight/

This is an article about regional, rural and remote Australia, contributed to new site: The Stirrer.

Read ’50 Shades Of Rainbow’ by clicking here: www.thestirrer.com.au/outside-the-city-50-shades-of-rainbow/

To welcome Daniel home from 6 months of writing his second book in Berlin, Germany, Hawker Brownlow Professional Learning Solutions are holding a professional development opportunity for teachers and health professionals, particularly those working with young people.

When: Thursday 13th September, 4:30pm to 6:30pm
Where: Hemisphere Hotel & Conference Centre, Moorabbin

This is an ideal workshop for those who want to know how to interrupt and challenge the homophobia of those around them.  Join challenging homophobia educator, Daniel to learn practical strategies and frameworks for understanding sexual identity, coming out and challenging a variety of homophobic behaviours in young people and adults that can be used immediately.

For more information, click here: September BTSGay Training Flyer

A video introduction to ‘Who is Daniel Witthaus?’ was recently put together by award-winning filmmaker Jonathan Duffy and uploaded to YouTube.  Better known for his documentary, The Doctor’s Wife, charting he and his partner’s journey as a gay couple into rural Queensland, Jono wanted to highlight other people making a difference in the LGBT community.  In Jono’s own words:
“Gay rights advocate and education activist Daniel Witthaus is an extraordinary man with an extraordinary mission to eliminate homophobia in Australia. This passionate Victorian from Geelong embarked on an incredible 38 week journey in 2010, all around rural Australia, taking his anti-homophobia training, called Beyond That’s So Gay’, to schools, organizations and individuals. This video entitled “Who is Daniel Witthaus?” is the first in a serious about influential GLBTIQ people who are helping to make the world a better place.”

To view ‘Who is Daniel Witthaus?’ click here: Who is Daniel Witthaus?

For more on The Doctor’s Wife, click here: The Doctor’s Wife Official Website

Daniel joined Federal MP Adam Bandt for a ‘People Power’ panel at the Melbourne Queer Film Festival on Sunday 18th March.  Following on from a Dutch documentary, ‘Help! We’ve Got A Gay In The Class’, Daniel and Adam discussed the realities of individual vs collective activism.

Click here for more details: Help! We’ve Got A Gay In The Class

For the last 6 months Daniel has been working with Hobsons Bay City Council in Melbourne’s West.  Thanks to the now internationally famous and first Intersex Mayor Tony Briffa, Hobsons Bay have been looking at ways to better include and support GLBTIQ residents.  Daniel only just completed Beyond ‘That’s So Gay’ training for an all-of-staff session.  Due to the interest and popularity, the session had to be moved to the largest room at Council!  This built on the success of training for Youth Service staff and was followed by a presentation to Hobsons Bay’s own GLBTIQ Reference Group.

Daniel has been lucky enough to help with Hobsons Bay’s efforts to encourage local governments in Melbourne’s West to start meaningfully addressing GLBTIQ needs.  Earlier this year he presented to the Western Region’s GLBTIQ Local Government Reference Group which resulted in quite a bit of fun, frivolity and excitement.

Stay tuned for more exciting local government news.  And go Hobsons Bay!