How to make schools safe for queer, neurodivergent children

A class 10 student of a Greater Faridabad private school died by suicide on 24th February. In his suicide note he wrote that his school was responsible for his death. His mother said that he was sexually harrassed by other students over his sexuality, while he struggled with studies due to dyslexia. Instead of helping him, his mother alleges that school authorities harassed him for complaining. The principal was arrested and has been granted bail by the court since, while investigations continue. 

On this episode of Pride and Prejudice, host Suryatapa Mukherjee spoke to Shivakumar and Tejaswi. Shivakumar is the co-founder of Nestam, an LGBTQ+ support group in Visakhapatnam which conducts workshops in schools to make them a safe space. Tejaswi is a digital editor at Gaysi Family and they are neurodivergent like the boy who died. They share their experiences with bullying, the role of teachers and the solutions we need to pursue.

School student's suicide in Faridabad: SIT formed to probe case | Indian Express
An Exploratory Study of Discriminations based on Non-Normative Genders and Sexualities | TISS, 2019
Inclusion of Transgender Children in School Education | NCERT Manual
How a Trans-Inclusive Manual for School Teachers Turned Controversial in India | Autostraddle 

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