It's Elementary: Talking About Gay Issues in School (1996)

The groundbreaking film that addresses anti-gay prejudice by providing adults with practical lessons on how to talk with children about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people. Part of The Respect for All Project.

Directors:

Debra Chasnoff (co-director), Helen Cohen (co-director)

Writer:

Debra Chasnoff

Star:

Bob Smith

3 wins.

Cast

Credited cast:
Bob Smith	...	Self

Storyline

It's Elementary is the first film of its kind to address anti-gay prejudice by providing adults with practical lessons on how to talk with kids about gay people. Hailed as "a model of intelligent directing," It's Elementary shows that children are eager and able to wrestle with stereotypes and absorb new facts about what it means to be gay or lesbian. Since it aired on more than 100 public television stations in 1999, It's Elementary has fueled a growing movement of educators and parents - gay and straight alike - who are committed to preventing pervasive homophobia and anti-gay violence. The film shows what happens when kids in kindergarten through eighth grade discuss lesbian- and gay-related topics in age-appropriate ways. Shot in six public and private schools, It's Elementary models excellent teaching about family diversity, name-calling, stereotypes, community building and more.

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Plot Keywords:

gay | lesbian | prejudice | children | stereotype | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Did You Know?

Connections

Followed by It's Still Elementary (2007)

User Reviews

These kids are on the ball

One of the kids says "What's the big whoop?" about people being gay. It should be no more remarkable than the fact that some people are left-handed. Despite the fear-mongering of the religious right wing, this film demonstrates that talking to kids about gay issues is possible and productive

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 May 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

C'est élémentaire, parler de l'homosexualité à l'école

Filming Locations:

Luther Burbank Middle School, San Francisco, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

GroundSpark, Women's Educational Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Color:

Color