Paul Patrick

Paul Patrick (23 July 1950, South Shields – 22 May 2008, Burnley) was an English teacher and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights activist.

While continuing to teach English and Drama, he became the co-ordinator for a project bringing adults with learning disabilities into the school to use the facilities and work with pupils.

This work was recognised by the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) who appointed him an advisor for equal opportunities in the areas of Expressive Arts, particularly Drama & Theatre Studies, PHSE and the pastoral curriculum.

He also directed several plays including an education piece on homophobic bullying which toured local schools and was performed at teachers' conferences.

He also became the Equal Opportunities Officer of the National Union of Teachers - Lancashire Division and a member of the NUT's LGBT Working Party.

[citation needed] Since 2004, he was a member of the Steering Group of LGBT History Month (UK) for which, together with a team of teachers, he created and vetted lessons and assembly suggestions.

His articles were published in many prestigious publications including Gay News, The Guardian, The Times Educational Supplement, The Teacher, the Open University, Tretham Books and Multilingual Matters .

He regularly appeared in the national press,[citation needed] on TV and radio programmes dealing with education, social equality and LGBT issues and fulfilled many public speaking engagements.