DOCUMENTARY: Production Prep [Treatment]

‘The Birds, the Bees and the Rainbows’ is part of a series of short documentaries looking at ‘Teen Spirit’, commissioned for BBC Three’s online channel. The show is a detailed examination of the representation of gender and sexual identity within modern sex-ed. Modern schools aren’t teaching what they legally should, minimising LGBTQ+ representation to give heteronormative lessons that can have a damaging affect on many young queer people. With a specific focus on the demographic of young, LGBTQ+ people, ‘Birds, Bees & Rainbows’ combines interviews with a variety of people from all backgrounds and beliefs to reflect BBC Three’s usual 16-34 demographic.

Interviews are being conducted with individuals of varying ages, sexualities, genders, backgrounds and beliefs in order to give an unbiased view, get a fuller understanding of our topic and most importantly show that this isn’t an isolated experience. Our first interview is with Skye, (19, non-binary, acesexual) who claims: “The curriculum surrounding sex education did not provide me, or other LGBT folk, with any knowledge or resources. This resulted in me identifying (unhappily) as male for THREE YEARS after i discovered transgender people.” This excellently kicks off the discussion that sex-ed is failing to represent an audience that may need it desperately, often negatively affecting mental health and supporting the agenda of ignorant schoolyard bullies. We contrast this with Molly (13, cishet) a younger student who has recently gone through sex-ed. This interview backs up the points made by Skye but from a different perspective, giving a different view on the topic but maintaining that this is a real and very serious subject. We also meet Molly’s parents, Debbie and Darrell (49 & 49) who tell us whether they would feel confident and comfortable answering their daughter’s questions about sex, sexuality and gender or whether they think it’s very much an educator’s job. The question of where young people turn for information is answered by Chloe (19, acesexual) who educated herself through information from the media and internet, a discussion completely contrasted by following Medway Gender and Sexual Diversity Centre sex-educators into schools to see where effective and honest information is available for young people.

The documentary will focus heavily on interviews which can become a little boring and disengaging for viewers. To combat this in an effective and informative way, we’re heading to Brighton to visit a school that is highly reputable for its approach to sex education. Their own sex ed guidelines build on the government curriculum, adding in multiple own guidelines such as: “personal responsibility in all forms of behaviour, including respect and consideration for others regardless of gender, race, religion, disability and sexual orientation;  Opportunities to understand and accept difference and diversity.”

Written by Zak Wilkins