Safe Space | Straight but Not Narrow | Transgender Ally Training | Social Justice Training | Bisexuality and Nonmonosexuality Training
| Safe Space Training on February 17 is full. Thank you for your interest. |
Safe Space
The Safe Space Program is the LGBT Resource Center’s initiative to educate allies who support LGBTQ individuals in our campus community.
Purpose
Unlike more visible under-represented groups, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons cannot be readily identified. Likewise, there is not easy method of identifying persons supportive of LGBT people. As one component of the LGBTQA Campus Advisory Network, the Safe Space Program strives to provide a way for supportive persons within the University community to prominently identify themselves. The program advances Northwestern University’s goal of creating a campus community in which everyone is treated with respect and dignity. Please consider this your invitation to participate.
About the Symbol
The Safe Space symbol is based on the rainbow flag, which is representative of the acceptance of the diversity within our entire society, as well as the more specific LGBT communities. The triangle shape is derived from symbols the Nazis used to identify gay men (pink triangle) and lesbians (black triangle) in concentration camps. These icons have been reclaimed by the gay rights movement as symbols of empowerment and remembrance.
Goal of the Safe Space Program
The goal of this program is to provide a more hospitable environment for LGBT people at Northwestern by establishing an identifiable network of allies who can provide support, information, and act as allies to LGBT individuals within the University community.
Safe Space Objectives
- To identify and mobilize a network of people who are empathetic and knowledgeable about LGBT people and topics. The Safe Space training will emphasize knowledge about campus and community resources.
- To provide evidence of LGBT support by displaying a sign as a visible symbol of personal commitment.
- To reduce the fear of reprisal and discrimination of LGBT persons within the NU community.
Member Responsibilities
- Complete Safe Space training program.
- To display the Safe Space symbol.
- To be available to members of the University community who wish to discuss LGBT topics.
- To share information about University and community resources related to LGBT life.
- To respect privacy and confidentiality.
- To keep current on resources and continue to learn about LGBT issues.
Who can participate in Safe Space?
- Students, faculty, staff & administrators
- Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning and straight allies who are informed about campus and community resources
- People who are respectful of confidentiality
- Those who are supportive of the right of all people to participate fully, equally, and openly in the life of this community without fear.
Safe Space Training Process
“What is the training program like? Why do people have to go through it to become a member of the Safe Space Program?”
The training component of the program is in place to ensure that members of the Safe Space program are knowledgeable and comfortable dealing with LGBT topics. It also provides opportunities to connect with a group of people to form another support framework – after all, people who are allies also need support. We understand that some participants will come to the program with considerable background in these issues, but we require everyone to attend a training session. The facilitators will ensure that the training will be a worthwhile experience no matter the backgrounds of the participants. The training will cover (but will not necessarily be limited to) the following:
- Listening skills
- How to be a support during the coming out process
- Theories of sexual identity formation/development
- Campus and community resources
- What is an ally? Ally development theories
- What it means to be a part of this Safe Space program.
Effects of Membership
“What may happen if I put a Safe Space sticker on my door?”
- LGBT people may feel more free to speak openly with you so there is genuine communication
- People may turn to you for support or for information about LGBT services and programs
- You may never notice a difference when you interact with others, but you will know you are making a difference
- You will be making a contribution to the improvement of NU’s campus communities and lives of LGBT individuals at Northwestern.
I understand that as a participant in the LGBT Safe Space program, I am openly declaring my support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. I agree to publicly display the sticker provided to me upon successful completion of the training program. I understand that as a participant in the Safe Space program, my name and contact information (as listed on this form) will be published in various media and available to those who request it. This list will not imply a specific sexual orientation, but will imply status as an ally. I agree with goals, objectives, and member responsibilities of the Safe Space Program as stated on this Web site. I understand that failure to adhere to the member responsibilities may result in my being removed as a member of the program.
Additionally, if I am unsure about my ability to commit to being an ally, I may attend the training but will not sign an ally contract or receive a sticker.
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Straight but not Narrow
| About the Program
Straight But Not Narrow (SBNN) is an educational program designed for residence halls, fraternities and sororities, athletic teams, and any other student organization or university department that want to begin a dialogue with their members or residents with regards to the LGBT community at Northwestern. Founded in 2004 by the LGBT Support Network, the workshop is facilitator-based with all facilitators completing, at minimum, Safe Space and SBNN Training. The program itself runs 60 minutes and is a very basic introduction to LGBT definitions, offensive terminology, what it means to be an ally, Northwestern resources, and participatory activities. SBNN facilitators can also tailor programs to meet the needs of the specific population participating in the workshop. For further information or if you would like to request a Straight But Not Narrow program, Doris Dirks at d-dirks@northwestern.edu. |
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Transgender Ally Training
Our primary purpose in presenting this training is to educate the NU community about transgender people who are often overlooked when grouped with lesbian, gay and bisexual people.
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- Intersex – We will discuss the unique concerns of intersex people, whose grouping under the umbrella definition of transgender often overlooks their distinct experiences. We’ll also review the limitations of a medical perspective of treating intersex conditions.
- Gender Transition – We talk about the process of gender transition, including hormone and surgical therapy.
- Personal Stories – Because we are not just talking about theories and ideas, but about real people with real lives, we have selected (or we have some guests who will share) some personal stories to help bring to life stories from Transgender people.
- Issues of Trans Youth – Then we will review some of the issues that transgender youth face, with specific attention to the college population.
- The Transgender Ally – Finally, we’ll give specific strategies about how to be a transgender ally. We will make suggestions for how we can use ourselves as allies to help make our communities and campus more welcoming for transgender people.
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Social Justice Ally Training
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability; it comes through the tireless efforts of men and women”.
- Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Social justice is the pursuit of justice and equity for populations, who are, currently and historically, marginalized, exploited, disempowered, or violated based on their social group membership. These manifestations of oppression are the pervasive existence of social inequality woven through social institutions as well as embedded within individual consciousness.
Rooted in civil rights movements of the past century this includes the rights of the following: people of color; people with diverse religions; women, people with disabilities; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people; the poor and working class; and younger and older adults. The pursuit of social justice inevitably involves working to dissolve the many “isms” of injustice and oppression.
Description: The goals of this training are to equip participants with the tools to be able to discuss concepts including power, oppression and privilege. Attendees will also learn about social justice ally development and will participate in reflection activities, group discussion and will listen to a panel of individuals discuss how they negotiate membership in diverse communities. Duration: 3 hours
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Getting Bi: A Workshop on Bisexuality and Nonmonosexuality
People who identify as bisexual (or non-monosexual) face unique challenges within the LGBTQA community and society at large. Getting Bi is a 90 minute workshop designed for NU students, staff and faculty who wish to gain a greater understanding of bisexuality and nonmonosexuality. The workshop includes:
- An introduction to relevant definitions and terms
- Discussion of the myths and stereotypes that exist about bisexuality and how biphobia can perpetuate myths
- An overview of Fritz Klein’s understanding of sexual orientation as well as the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid
- Participatory activities and resources at Northwestern and beyond
