'Fit': Stonewall's school film about homophobic bullying

[Maurice]

Times Online | News and Views from The Times and Sunday Times



'Can a film stop homophobic bullying?'

by Patrick Strudwick:



Stonewall has produced a feature film called FIT that dramatises the issue of homophobic bullying in schools.



The DVD will be sent to every secondary school in Britain next month.



The movie is based on the 2007 play of the same name with which Stonewall has toured schools around the UK.



School films do not normally rank as must-sees with their low budgets and often clunking approaches to the subject matter. But this is rather different.



In an hour and 45 minutes, more insight into gay youth issues, sexual identity and the nature of bullying is offered than in any other film that has broached those topics.



It is episodic; each segment follows a different member of a dance and drama class in a fictitious London school. It's a kind of gritty take on the shiny E4 drama GLEE.....



FIT was written and directed by Rikki Beadle-Blair, best known for his role in METROSEXUALITY, the 2001 BBC drama series. He is also an award-winning documentary-maker.



"We wanted to do something about this culture of acceptance that homophobic bullying is inevitable," he says. "Ultimately, we want to put an end to bigotry."

[Maurice]

FIT was discussed in THE REVIEW SHOW (BBC2) this evening.



The film has a limited cinema release from next Friday 05/11/10.

[didi-5]

Good news Maurice. Stonewall, Outrage and the like have done so much to combat homophobia. Since Clause 28 was repealed it has now become acceptable again to flag alternative lifestyles to those growing up, many probably dealing with finding their own sexualities might not be straight. If bullying and violence, discrimination and misinformation against gays and lesbians could be completely wiped out, the world would be a much better place. Perhaps then certain national newspapers would stop reporting negatively on 'accusations' and 'slurs' on people's sexualities. Let's celebrate our gay men and women with pride, and don't assume that falling in love with someone of the same sex is always something to report on in a sensationalist way. Then those kids growing up might just accept Ruth's girlfriend, or Bill's boyfriend, without thinking it is something freaky.

[Moor Larkin]

If you didn't catch the BBC's Wonderland docu about the all-boy Cheerleaders from Leeds, it's still on i-player for four more days....



http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00vd7q4

[Nick Beal]

Bullying of any kind in schools is, broadly speaking, unnaceptable. This shouldn't

be confined to perceived issues of sexual identity (real or imagined). There is also the

alternate veiw that having to overcome difficulties is character building. Personally,

I would rather watch paint dry than sit through any propaganda from Stonewall......

[jaycad]

i can't see the film having any major effect personally! bullying for this reason will continue because most lads in school are less mature than girls of their age,less tolerant and adhere to gang culture for fear of being singled out themselves.

[Moor Larkin]

name='jaycad' timestamp='1288500315' post='487885']i can't see the film having any major effect personally! bullying for this reason will continue because most lads in school are less mature than girls of their age,less tolerant and adhere to gang culture for fear of being singled out themselves.

The docu from Leeds had prepubescent boys doing Cheer-leading with pink pom-poms. The format was fairly open and one or two of the boys commented that it could get a little embarrassing but so far as the documentary indicated, the *bullying* was tolerable.



Joe English, 13, also from Belle Isle, agrees it has not always been easy.



"They used to call me camp, and poof, and gay, and all that. But then when I'm on a rugby pitch they go 'Oh, you're well rough!'" he says.



The Dazl Diamonds took on the girls at the National Cheerleading Championships

But Allison High, the mother of another Dazl Diamond, 12-year-old Elliott Morgan, says cheerleading has been "absolutely brilliant" for her son.



"It's given him confidence, personality, and he can take a laugh now instead of taking everything straight to the heart.



"It's been a good, good thing for him. It's totally changed my child. Yeah, somebody's took my kid and given me another one."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11488546

[GRAEME]

name='Nick Beal' timestamp='1288484849' post='487866']

Bullying of any kind in schools is, broadly speaking, unnaceptable. This shouldn't

be confined to perceived issues of sexual identity (real or imagined). There is also the

alternate veiw that having to overcome difficulties is character building. Personally,

I would rather watch paint dry than sit through any propaganda from Stonewall......

High horse, alert!



Of course, all bullying is unacceptable - why would mentioning a film aimed at reducing one type of discrimination undermine that fact? And if you think being teased, singled out and occassionally beaten year after year is great for "character building", then you are a bit sick.



There are a lot of resourses for use with young people that focus on general bullying and race hate, for example. Gay bullying has been rather ignored - so this film will be very welcome.

[Nick Beal]

name='GRAEME' timestamp='1288521344' post='487957']

High horse, alert!



Of course, all bullying is unacceptable - why would mentioning a film aimed at reducing one type of discrimination undermine that fact? And if you think being teased, singled out and occassionally beaten year after year is great for "character building", then you are a bit sick.



There are a lot of resourses for use with young people that focus on general bullying and race hate, for example. Gay bullying has been rather ignored - so this film will be very welcome.

"Yawn"

[Moor Larkin]

name='GRAEME' timestamp='1288521344' post='487957']Gay bullying has been rather ignored - so this film will be very welcome.

I have no idea what the film might be like. I would hope that if it sends the message that boys who do not want to be cuss, fight and be rude and obnoxious (like many male movie heroes) are not labelled as "gay" but treated as normal boys who like to behave in a civilised fashion then it can only be a good thing. On the other hand if it seeks to pigeon-hole some youngsters as gay and that therefore they need special *protection* then it is adding to the scope for the bullying. Personally I'm a little uncertain about school-children having to have any particular *sexuality*



Is there a similar film for geeks?.....

[GRAEME]

name='Nick Beal' timestamp='1288522272' post='487970']

"Yawn"

Sorry to bore you.



I do wonder why you don't go and find a discussion site where your "exciting" prejudiced and homophobic views would be better appreciated?

[GRAEME]

name='Moor Larkin' timestamp='1288523582' post='487990']

I have no idea what the film might be like. I would hope that if it sends the message that boys who do not want to be cuss, fight and be rude and obnoxious (like many male movie heroes) are not labelled as "gay" but treated as normal boys who like to behave in a civilised fashion then it can only be a good thing. On the other hand if it seeks to pigeon-hole some youngsters as gay and that therefore they need special *protection* then it is adding to the scope for the bullying. Personally I'm a little uncertain about school-children having to have any particular *sexuality*



Is there a similar film for geeks?.....

So, school children don't have a sexuality? What planet are you from? Did your get you sexuality as a present on your 21st or something?



I knew which way I swung from about the age of 5! Even if that is a tad early - we are talking about teenagers here!



The main point is that gay bullying goes on - directed at straight and gay kids - and needs addressing. The particular issues confronting gay and lesbian teens who are struggling with their own sexual identity at the same time also need careful understanding.



These two issues are not necessarily the same but there is a considerable overlap. Hopefully the film might be useful as a resourse.

[Moor Larkin]

name='GRAEME' timestamp='1288524043' post='487996']I knew which way I swung from about the age of 5!

I can barely even remember being five...............



If there is so much *certainty* how can there be any bullying? I think the bullying attitudes work on the very uncertainty you deny.



GLEE has explicated this very well, in the episodes I have seen, with the very gay character not being phased especially by the *bullying*. I daresay GLEE's slightly surreal and entertainingly sympathetic evocation of making the viewer like all people has done more for the subject matter than the gritty stone-walling movie ever will. It's certainly won on the distribution front as American movies always do...



Speaking of GLEE, I seem to recall a similar gay character "Cheer-leading" in the film Bring it On, so I'm guessing this is something not unknown in the US of A. It's as good a metaphor as any I guess.

[GRAEME]

name='Moor Larkin' timestamp='1288526227' post='488018']



If there is so much *certainty* how can there be any bullying? I think the bullying attitudes work on the very uncertainty you deny.

Eh?



Who says bullying is based on uncertainty?



There are lots of very certain heterosexuals who are certain they hate honosexuals and would bully them quite happily!



Bullying is based on fear, difference, hate, ignorance, power relationships... all sorts of things.

[Moor Larkin]

name='GRAEME' timestamp='1288526586' post='488021']Who says bullying is based on uncertainty?



There are lots of very certain heterosexuals who are certain they hate honosexuals and would bully them quite happily!

I thought the convention was that this was often engaged in by those who were repressed homosexuals themselves....



My point is that if young kids were certain they were gay (or indeed certain they were not), then they wouldn't be in the least bothered about being called *gay* and therefore would be immune from bullying.



Perhaps we are talking about different things. If we mean gay boys/girls being assaulted then I would think 99% of heterosexual adults would find it utterly abhorrent. However I confess to moving in a social circle where nobody gets assaulted and when I was at school, boys fighting would only take place one-on-one in an *organised* fashion after school, so perhaps I am not the one to judge modern youth culture and the British education system.

[GRAEME]

name='Moor Larkin' timestamp='1288527643' post='488031']

I thought the convention was that this was often engaged in by those who were repressed homosexuals themselves....



My point is that if young kids were certain they were gay (or indeed certain they were not), then they wouldn't be in the least bothered about being called *gay* and therefore would be immune from bullying.



Perhaps we are talking about different things. If we mean gay boys/girls being assaulted then I would think 99% of heterosexual adults would find it utterly abhorrent. However I confess to moving in a social circle where nobody gets assaulted and when I was at school, boys fighting would only take place one-on-one in an *organised* fashion after school, so perhaps I am not the one to judge modern youth culture and the British education system.

I think you are quite correct about your last statement!



I'm pleased you had such a happy childhood. I didn't. And I have taught in pretty rough secondary comprehensive schools. Please believe me when I tell you it is a nasty cruel world sometimes for kids. Especially if you are gay, or fat, or a racial minority, or a bit different in any way at all.



And gay bullying doesn't just consist of calling someone gay! Any more than racist bullying is a case of saying: "you're black"! There's a whole range of ostracization and verbal, physical and mental abuse.



And it isn't just from other kids, unfortunately. They can get it from teachers and other adults (even parents!)too.

[Mark O]

name='GRAEME' timestamp='1288526586' post='488021']



Bullying is based on fear, difference, hate, ignorance, power relationships... all sorts of things.

I'm with you on this one Graeme having been a victim myself, bully's are unsecure and have something missing in their own lives hence the need to lash out at others, though thankfully there's much more that can be done about these situations in this day and age than there was during my secondary school years, one reason why I didn't go onto further education which on reflection I wish I did, I just wanted out.

[GRAEME]

name='Mark O' timestamp='1288532907' post='488060']

I'm with you on this one Graeme having been a victim myself, bully's are unsecure and have something missing in their own lives hence the need to lash out at others, though thankfully there's much more that can be done about these situations in this day and age than there was during my secondary school years, one reason I didn't go onto further education which on reflection I wish I did, I just wanted out.

Thanks for that Mark.



In my experience, bullying seemed to disappear at 6th Form level. But I do know people who continued to be bullied into adult life.