Safe Zone LGBTQIA+ Workshops

"How wonderful is it that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." Anne Frank

The Safe Zone workshop promotes awareness of the LGBTQIA+ community.  This two-hour workshop aims to educate the Stockton community on LGBTQIA+ issues and terminology, with the result of improving the environment for our students, faculty and staff who identify as LGBTQIA+.  This workshop will also be the starting point for building a network of support within our community.

 

Rationale:

The Safe Zone Project will address many concerns, issues, misunderstandings, and lack of information. There is a need for more discussion about the homophobia, hate speech, and diversity issues/concerns on many levels present on the Stockton University Campus. A place of higher education should be a place where everyone feels comfortable being themselves (regardless of personal identity). The campus has a responsibility to provide its students with a comfortable learning environment irrespective of their differences. Through programs like Safe Zone, we can make Stockton University a more supportive and comfortable environment for all people.

 

Workshop goals and learning objectives:

• To increase awareness of LGBTQIA+ people and issues.
• To put a human face on the experiences of people who support full equality for LGBTQ people.
• To help build a visible support network of LGBTQIA+ allies on Stockton's campus.
• To introduce working definitions of LGBTQIA+ terminology, symbols, and flags and to clarify misconceptions.
• To understand the 'coming out' process of LGBTQIA+ people.
• To provide accurate information, while offering a challenge to myths and sterotypes
• To help clarify understanding of gender identity, gender expression/presentation, sex assigned at birth, sexual and romantic orientations.
• To explore topic of social construction of LGBTQIA+ identities.
• To discover an understanding of heterosexism, homophobia, and transphobia.
• To encourage dialogue within and beyond the educational session by preparing our students to educate others.
• To learn about local LGBTQIA+ resources and sources for continuing education.

[adapted from MSUD (as adapted from Rainbow Center, UCONN)]