LGBTQ+ Education For Kids with Olly Pike
This week, Hannah’s joined by children’s author and LGBTQ+ creator of Pop ‘n’ Olly, Olly Pike. Olly chats about his work in providing LGBTQ+ Education for kids, including his re-imagining of classic fairytales. They also discuss the high statistics of LGBTQ+ students being bullied in school, and the impact of the No Outsiders Programme and subsequent protests. Finally, Hannah talks to Olly about his campaign to get his latest book in every primary school in the UK and they ask - will Disney ever have an LGBTQ+ prince or princess?
Read the episode transcript here!
SHOW NOTES
What we chat about…
How Olly got into LGBTQ+ Education for kids
Olly’s journey on YouTube - changing his content to introduce LGBTQ+ videos
The positive response to Olly’s work, but also dealing with trolls
The LGBTQ+ re-imagining of fairytales that Olly has written & illustrated
Olly’s work going into primary schools to teach LGBTQ+ education, and adapting the lessons to suit different ages
The No Outsiders Programme - are these people just a loud minority?
The sexualisation of LGBTQ+ people and how this limits education on LGBTQ+ issues
Calling out homophobia
Tolerance vs Acceptance
The high stats of LGBTQ+ students being bullied at school and why it’s so important to teach children about LGBTQ+ issues at a young age
Disney - when will we get an LGBTQ+ prince or princess?
The role of fan fiction and finding queer characters
Olly’s new book ‘Kenny Lives With Erica And Martina’, which he is campaigning to get a copy of in every Primary School in the UK
Section 28 and the banning of the book ‘Jenny Lives With Erica and Martin’
Olly’s other books and why a character’s sexuality, ethnicity or disability doesn’t need to be the main plot point of their story
Why do we grow up thinking that being in a relationship is the ‘end goal’? And that we only see LGBTQ+ people as an ‘acceptable gay’ if they follow this heteronormative structure?
Healthy relationships being different to how relationships are portrayed in film, TV and books
How the young people Olly meets are much more tolerant than older people - when do homophobic views start to form? What will the future be like when these young people become our leaders and law makers?
Useful Links
The No Outsiders Programme at Parkfield Community School led to protests earlier this year. Read more: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-47738863/school-lgbt-teaching-row-what-is-in-the-no-outsiders-books-that-sparked-protests
Olly’s latest book is ‘Kenny Lives With Erica And Martina’. Buy your copy: https://www.popnolly.com/product-page/kenny-lives-with-erica-and-martina
This book explores the impact of ‘Jenny Live With Eric and Martin’, which led to Section 28 being introduced. Find out more: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lv4hc
Olly is campaigning to get a copy of his latest book in every Primary School in the UK. Find out how you can get involved: https://www.popnolly.com/kennylives
Hopster TV is a kids TV channel that Olly sometimes features on. Watch: https://www.hopster.tv/
Olly’s first re-made, LGBTQ+ fairytale was called ‘Prince Henry’. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkAyo8KBeFw
‘The Jungle Cruise’ will be the first Disney film with an openly gay character, however the character will be played by straight actor Jack Whitehall, which has caused controversy. Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/aug/13/jack-whitehall-role-gay-disney-character-row-jungle-cruise
Olly’s ‘The Ice Queen and her wife’ video was his LGBTQ+ take on ‘Frozen’. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asYa3bDmII8
Find out more about Olly’s other books here: https://www.popnolly.com/shop
Olly’s series on YouTube called ‘All The Boys I’ve Ever Loved’. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tobyc2oB7BY
MORE ABOUT OLLY PIKE
Olly is a YouTuber, children’s Author and LGBTQ+ Creator of Pop ‘n’ Olly, which is an LGBTQ+ and Equality Education platform.
Find out more about Olly on his website, Instagram and Twitter.