A three-part educational module on homosexuality has proven effective in reducing prejudice among orthodox Protestant youth. The lessons increase awareness and encourage respectful interactions, even in the face of religious objections.
“Due to religious beliefs and traditions, orthodox Protestant schools are generally less open to addressing the topic of sexual diversity than other schools,” says educationalist Henriëtte Boersma. “Orthodox Protestant young people are more likely to hold negative attitudes towards homosexuality. Gay in the Classroom (now known as Queer in the Classroom, ed.) is specifically aimed at this group, and I wanted to explore to what extent the programme contributes to more conscious and respectful engagement with homosexuality.”
Coming Out
Boersma conducted research into the lesson module among Year 10 students (third-year HAVO/VWO) at four orthodox Protestant secondary schools, all of which have their roots in the Reformed Churches (Liberated). The module consists of three parts: a preparatory lesson, a guest lesson featuring Christian speakers who share their coming out stories, and a follow-up discussion.
Building Bridges
“The research showed that many students were unfamiliar with the Bible verses traditionally used to condemn homosexuality. After the lessons, they rejected those interpretations,” Boersma explains. “Students also became more aware that using ‘gay’ as a slur can hurt people around them. Following the module, several students expressed an intention to reach out more to their LGBTQ classmates.”
Mixed-Methods Approach
The study, which combined literature review, interviews, and a mixed-methods approach, involved 636 students in total. A quasi-experimental design was used: 272 students participated in the lessons, while the rest formed a control group. “The results show that interventions like Gay in the Classroom can make a difference, even within religious settings,” Boersma concludes. “While the effects are modest, they align with findings from similar programmes and provide valuable insights into how context and underlying mechanisms can contribute to changes in attitude and behaviour among religious youth.”