Safe Zones serve as a source of support and information, free of judgment and hostility. They display the Safe Zone logo to indicate that they have completed Safe Zone training and have signed a contract expressing their commitment to Safe Zone policies and procedures. Safe Zones are also expected to challenge assumptions and prejudices related to sexual orientation and gender and to address heterosexist comments or behaviors in an educational and informative manner.
Goals of the Safe Zone Program:
- To increase the campus community’s understanding and awareness of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and questioning/queer (LGBTQ+) issues
- To provide a greater sense of safety for the LGBTQ+ student community
- To offer information to straight allies of LGBTQ+ people.
- To act as a resource for information related to combating homophobia, heterosexism, transphobia and other LGBTQ+ misinformation and misconceptions
Safe Zones at Rhodes:
- Between 5-7 Safe Zone training sessions facilitated by the Campus Counseling Center take place during each school year
- Safe Zones include faculty and staff members and students who participate in such organizations as Residence Life, the Peer Advocate Center and the Gay-Straight Alliance
- As of the 2019-2020 school year, 160 faculty and staff are Active Safe Zones
- A total of 719 Safe Zones have been trained since the beginning of the program
- In addition to being allies for individual LGBTQ+ students, Safe Zone participants attend a series of Brown Bag Lunch sessions throughout the school year to foster discussion around issues such as being transgender in college, coming out to friends, family and parents, and dealing with homophobia and heterosexism on campus
LGBTQ+ Resources
- OutMemphis
- The Trevor Project
- GLSEN
- Human Rights Campaign
- Tennessee Equality Project
- The Sylvia Rivera Law Project
- PFLAG
Do you have questions about the Rhodes Safe Zone program? Contact Pam Detrie for more information!
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