Colourful characters have anti-homophobia message
STUDENTS shined the spotlight on homophobia with a week of colourful events to raise awareness of the issue.
Pupils in year 10 at Stockport Academy, in Cheadle Heath, organised the events to express their support for the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and trans (LGBT) community.
The highlight was spectacular ‘colour bash’ – based on the traditional Hindu Holi festival - which saw around 200 students throw multi-coloured paint around the school playground.
Other activities included the release of 50 coloured balloons, each containing an anti-homophobia message, cake sales, dance performances and special assemblies.
A group of the academy’s sixth form students also created a short film to raise awareness of discrimination against transgender people, which will be shown at the Stockport Pride festival at the end of July.
The Co-op supported the event, donating £420 as well as providing refreshments, after pupil Shanaida Ahmed wrote to the company asking for help.
Stockport Academy principal Frank McCarron said: “The level of commitment and passion shown by our students in going the extra mile during anti-homophobia week was exemplary.
“Also we can’t thank everyone at the Co-op enough for supporting this extremely important cause.”