It's Elementary

It's Elementary

The groundbreaking film that addresses anti-gay prejudice by providing adults with practical lessons on how to talk with children about gay people. Part of The Respect for All Project.

It's Elementary is the first film of its kind to address anti-gay prejudice by providing adults with practical lessons on how to talk with kids about gay people. Hailed as "a model of intelligent directing," It's Elementary shows that children are eager and able to wrestle with stereotypes and absorb new facts about what it means to be gay or lesbian.

Since it aired on more than 100 public television stations in 1999, It's Elementary has fueled a growing movement of educators and parents -- gay and straight alike -- who are committed to preventing pervasive homophobia and anti-gay violence. The film shows what happens when kids in kindergarten through eighth grade discuss lesbian- and gay-related topics in age-appropriate ways. Shot in six public and private schools, It's Elementary models excellent teaching about family diversity, name-calling, stereotypes, community building and more.

It's Elementary has won numerous awards, has been acquired by nearly 3,000 educational institutions, and has received widespread acclaim from educators, policymakers, parents and religious leaders. Not surprisingly, It's Elementary has also been relentlessly condemned by the conservative right.

Since its release, the producers have run a remarkably successful grassroots distribution campaign, intended to make It's Elementary accessible to every conceivable type of institution working with children today. Through this effort, the film has had an unprecedented impact, creating a tidal wave of activism and public dialogue about addressing lesbian and gay issues in school.


New DVD Release of It's Elementary

It's Elementary will be available in DVD format beginning on March 1, 2008. We are taking pre-orders for the DVD now.

Watch clips from It's STILL Elementary.

The DVD contains the full-length version of the film, a 37 minute educational training version and a PDF file of the new, 136 page It's Elementary guide to community organizing, professional development, and K-8 curriculum. The DVD also contains our just-released documentary: It's STILL Elementary.

It's STILL Elementary is a moving story about the power of documentary film and grassroots organizing. It looks at the incredible impact that It's Elementary has had over the last decade, follows up with some of the teachers and students featured in the first film and asks them how lessons about LGBT people changed their lives.

Nobody can watch this movie and walk away without feeling that they, too, have a role to play in creating a climate that respects and protects all youth.

--Rhonda Thomason, Southern Poverty Law Center

It's STILL Elementary also documents the story behind the controversial PBS broadcast of It's Elementary and the infamous right-wing attacks on the film and its creators. It's STILL Elementary is a call to action for parents and educators to continue working for safe, inclusive schools. You won't want to miss it!

The new DVD contains many bonus features, Spanish subtitles and closed captioning. It's Elementary is still available in a two-tape VHS set containing the full-length version of the film and the 37 minute educational training version. You may also purchase a single full-length VHS version. Colleges and universities receive a free printed and bound version of the new It's Elementary guide with each purchase of the DVD or two-tape VHS set. The re-released version is distributed in partnership with the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Welcoming Schools program.

Recommended for use by:

  • K-12 teachers and youth service providers
  • Religious communities
  • Corporate diversity awareness programs
  • Safe schools advocacy programs
  • College and university courses and library collections

Part of The Respect For All Project


Organize a Local Screening

Educators, parents, and community leaders across the country are using It's STILL Elementary to support their local safe schools work. Screenings are being organized to draw attention to local efforts, fundraise, and re-energize the dialogue around creating LGBT-inclusive schools. GroundSpark can assist with outreach and communications, and can even organize for one of the film's participants to attend your screening. For more information about local screenings of It's STILL Elementary, please email rschwartz@respectforall.org.

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