Handout for Addressing Discrimination Lesson Plan (Core Activity)

There are times when you have the power to stop harassment and discrimination in its tracks. Remember that homophobic and transphobic words and actions are hurtful. They hurt the person targeted, the witnesses, and the bully. There are five steps you can use to stop harassment when you see it.

1. Assess if You are Physically Safe

• Sometimes it isn't safe to intervene when you witness discrimination or harassment. If you are afraid for your own physical safety, quickly go and find an adult who can help.
• If you feel you are not physically in danger, then proceed to step 2.

2. Address the Harassment

• Interrupt the interaction.
• Say something like, "Hey, cut it out. John's okay, stop harassing him!" or "Hey, leave John alone." Bullies often back down when someone calls them on their behavior.

3. Put the Focus on the Bully

• Say something like, "What you just did - putting John down like that is really disrespectful."
• Put the spotlight on the bully's behavior. Do NOT say anything to imply that the person being harassed belongs to the group just named.

4. Name the Harassment and its Consequences

• Identify the offense and its consequences: "Calling someone names is rude and hurtful." "Pushing others around in not okay."

5. Refuse to Join In

• Say something like, "By pushing John around you are acting like a real jerk. Don't ask me to go along; I think it's mean and uncalled for." Or "I won't be quiet when you act like that."
• Quietly, check in with the person who was harassed: "Are you okay?" "Do you want to talk?"  

Adapted and reprinted with permission of GLSEN Colorado from How to Address Harassment in the Hallways in 3 Minutes.