Safe Zone
Safe Zone is a campus-wide program committed to making The University of Arizona a safer, more welcoming, and inclusive environment for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) community. By becoming affiliated with Safe Zone, you are indicating that you will be an identifiable source of support and nurturance for LGBTQ students, faculty, and staff on The University of Arizona campus. Your participation in Safe Zone sends a message to campus community members that you are available to talk about their concerns, whether they be those of acknowledged members of the LGBTQ community, of people questioning their sexuality or gender identity, or concerns of fellow allies.
All workshops are free and open to the entire campus community. Any student, faculty, or staff member is welcome and all are strongly encouraged to attend. The complete Safe Zone Training consists of two workshops, including a General Education and an Ally Development workshop.
General Education Workshop- 2.5 hours
This training is designed to introduce participants to the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) people. This workshop will introduce definitions related to sexual orientation and gender identity, address homophobia and heterosexism, and dispel myths and misunderstandings about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender identities and communities. This workshop is a prerequisite for the Ally Development workshop. Participants who complete this session will receive a Safe Zone button.
Ally Development Workshops- 2 hours
The Ally Development workshop is designed to provide participants with information that will help them become allies for the LGBTQ community. Participants must complete the General Education workshop prior to this workshop. Facilitators assume that participants come with an understanding of issues facing LGBTQ people, and have some understanding of the concepts of heterosexism, homophobia, and gender identity/expression. Participants who complete this session will receive a Safe Zone placard indicating they are an identifiable source of support and nurturance for members of the LGBTQA community.
Advanced Safe Zone
Advanced Safe Zone workshops are designed for participants who have completed at minimum the General Education portion of Safe Zone. They provide participants with a deeper understanding of specific target topics and identities. One purpose of these workshops is to allow for guided discussion and advanced critical thinking on how our university can continue to be a safe space for the LGBTQ community and what participants can do to become stronger allies.
To learn more about Safe Zone, including the need for the program and the impact is has on the UA campus, please read: Results of the University of Arizona Safe Zone Program Impact Evaluation
The Safe Zone calendar and registration process is available through accessing the link below:
http://deanofstudents.arizona.edu/LGBTQaffairs/safe-zone-training-schedule
Safe Zone facilitators can host workshops for specific groups/classes/organizations upon request. We ask for a minimum of one month notice for all requests.
Please refer workshop requests, registration issues, and any questions to the Graduate Assistant for Ally Development with the Office of LGBTQ Affairs, Liz Kelley. Liz can easily be reached by email: ehkelley@email.arizona.edu or phone: (520) 626-1996.
Safe Zone/Safe Space is a national program.
This project is supported in part by funds from the LGBT-Straight Alliance Fund, a special project of the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona.
