It's Elementary: Talking About Gay Issues in School

May 20 1996 N/A 1h 20m
Documentary

Depicts what happens when students K-8 discuss LGBT-related topics in age-appropriate ways. Shot in six public and private schools (in San Francisco and New York City, as well as Madison, Wisconsin, and Cambridge, Massachusetts), It’s Elementary models excellent teaching about family diversity, name-calling, stereotypes, community building, and more.

Plot

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.

Written by

Debra Chasnoff

Directed by

Debra Chasnoff, Helen Cohen

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

GroundSpark, Women's Educational Media, Citizen Film, New Day Films, PBS

Languages

English

Awards

3 wins

Scores
# of Votes
99
Average Rating
8 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA