Kolkata: Push for schools to be more LGBTQ+ inclusive

KOLKATA: As city streets come to life with pride marches, Kolkata schools believe it’s time education became more inclusive for LGBTQ+ students. City school heads say the conversation on the subject of queer identity is needed more than ever considering that the majority of contemporary popular culture is arguably no longer gender binary.
While Kolkata schools organise workshops and interaction sessions to normalise queer identity, students, queer teachers and activists stress that gaps still need to be overcome.
Heritage School principal Seema Sapru said that along with counselling for students struggling with questions related to gender and sexuality, the school also holds regular life skills classes to enhance exposure and awareness. DPS Howrah principal Sunita Arora said her school has plans to organise workshops in the near future to combat negative stereotypes and teach students how to deal with these issues sensitively. Loveleen Saigal of Birla High School said, “In the pre-Covid years, we had sessions to desensitize our boys. For the time being, the students have personality development classes and life skills classes in which these issues are discussed to ensure that the students are aware and can learn to appreciate and respect one another.”
Birla High School Class XII student Bhaskar Agarwal said, “Social media and streaming sites play a huge role in sensitizing and creating awareness. On a personal level, I find a lot of support groups available on social media.”
On the other hand, members of the queer community in Kolkata argue that most educational facilities in the city still shy away from discussing issues related to queer identity. Toni B, a former tuition teacher who identifies as queer said, “Based on the feedback from students I have taught, not enough is being done.”
Gender rights activist Bappaditya Mukherjee said, “Sometimes we find that the teaching and student community are both very willing and supportive in these issues, but school managements prevent meaningful dialogues.”