It's still elementary

The national Respect for All Project believes that even elementary school students can inadvertently promote homophobia.

Ten years ago, the project released a documentary film, "It's Elementary: Talking About Gay Issues in School," in which teachers discussed LGBT issues with elementary school students.

Tomorrow, Tufts students can view the project's new film, "It's STILL Elementary," an update on the original movie. The Tufts LGBT Center will screen the film in Cabot Auditorium as a kick-off event to its celebration of Gaypril - a month of gay pride programming.

The LGBT Center will co-sponsor the screening along with Tufts' Department of Education and the national Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN).

Schwartz said that "It's STILL Elementary" discusses LGBT issues in an age-appropriate way. "It is not a conversation about sex, about sexual practices, about sexual identities."

Instead, the movie is about talking to children about different kinds of families and communities, and the impact of kids' attitudes about LGBT issues on their community. "I think [people] are really overlooking the kinds of conversations that kids are already having," Schwartz said.

Due to exposure to popular media, Schwartz believes that young children are shown LGBT issues in a negative light early on. He said it is never too soon to educate children about hurtful behavior.

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