Safe Zone: Current Allies
SafeZone
The purpose of Safe Zone is to create a network of allies for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students, and by doing so, to make the University community a safer and more supportive place. The Safe Zone program is a symbol of this University's efforts to increase awareness and acceptance of the LGBT community. Safe Zone ally training workshops, open to faculty, staff, and students, are held throughout the year. Allies receive a Safe Zone sign (shown at left) to display in their offices and living space to let others know publicly that they identify as an ally for LGBT persons.Goals & Objectives of Safe Zone
Allies develop:
- A deeper awareness of personal ideas, stereotypes, and assumptions related to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons
- An increased comfort level in addressing LGBT issues such as "coming out" and heterosexism/homophobia
- An increased awareness of services both on campus and in the community that support LGBT students
- A network of community and campus staff, faculty,
and students to support LGBT persons on campus
History
UNC's Safe Zone program is modeled on a program started by employees at AT&T and currently in place at corporations including Lotus Development, Disney, and Levi Strauss. There are also Safe Zone programs on many college campuses across the country. The Safe Zone program at UNC Chapel Hillapel Hillapel Hill started in 1998 as a collaborative effort between the Office of the Dean of Students and B-GLAD (now Queer Network for Change). UNC includes sexual orientation as a protected category in its equal opportunity policy, and is committed to creating a community where all people are welcome and feel safe. As a part of this commitment, the LGBT Office was opened in Spring, 2003.
The Safe Zone program experienced a great deal of growth
during the 2001-2002 school year. The number of trained allies went
from approximately 30 to 130, the first undergraduate students were
trained, the training program itself was revamped, and two campus wide
events were held: the Safe Zone Kick-off in October and "Linking
Together for Change: Ally Speak Out" in April.
In 2002-2003, Safe Zone was proud to have the opportunity to train members of Student Government and many resident advisors across campus and in Granville Towers. The number of trained allies across campus rose to 235.
The Safe Zone signs have a rainbow triangle, a person's name, and the statement, "is a safe person to talk to about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and heterosexual ally issues" The person displaying the sign has undergone ally training and is understanding and supportive of GLBT students and colleagues. Safe Zone allies are bound to confidentiality.
The rainbow triangle is a combination
of two symbols of gay/LGBT pride: the pink triangle and the rainbow
flag. The rainbow stands as a symbol of the pride and diversity of the
LGBT community. The pink triangle, on the other hand, has its origins
in oppression: it was required of homosexuals in Nazi Germany as an
identifying mark, just as Jews wore the yellow Star of David and political
prisoners the red triangle. The pink triangle has been re-appropriated
by the LGBT community as a sign of pride and identity. The rainbow triangle
is a symbol of struggle, remembrance, pride and diversity. The green
circle surrounding the triangle is an international symbol of acceptance.
All UNC faculty, staff, and students are eligible to become Safe Zone allies. Training takes place several times a semester. At the end of the training, you will be asked 1) if you wish to become an ally, 2) if you are willing to have your name published on the website and other publications, and 3) if you wish to join the Safe Zone ally listserv. You may choose any or all options. Click on the link below to find out when the next Safe Zone trainings are scheduled:
For more information on being an ally, check out the "For Allies" section of the LGBT website.
Questions, Comments? Email us at dos@unc.edu