It's Elementary: Talking About Gay Issues in School

It's Elementary: Talking About Gay Issues in School
VHS cover with an African American girl student writing the film's credits using white chalk on a blackboard
1996 VHS release
Directed by
Written byDebra Chasnoff
Produced by
  • Debra Chasnoff
  • Helen Cohen
Cinematography
Edited byShirley Thompson
Music byJon Herbst
Production
companies
  • GroundSpark
  • Women's Educational Media
Distributed by
Release date
  • 1996 (1996)
Running time
78 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

It's Elementary: Talking About Gay Issues in School is a 1996 American documentary film directed by Debra Chasnoff and Helen Cohen. It provides educators with information on how to teach elementary schoolchildren to be tolerant of gay and lesbian people. The film was noted as the "first of its kind" and was generally well received, although there was some backlash from conservatives.[1] It was released in several film festivals, and had screenings in the 2000s.

The documentary received little support from PBS, owing to backlash from the American Family Association. Prior to airing the film, television stations received calls, letters, and e-mails from people who did not want PBS program directors to broadcast It's Elementary. The film was awarded the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Documentary, Best Documentary at the Reeling Film Festival, and the Silver Spire from the San Francisco International Film Festival, among other awards. The film had two sequels: That's a Family! and It's Still Elementary.