What is Safe Zone? How do I find information to start an ally program on my campus?
Often heterosexual people are called on to be advocates for gay, lesbian, and bisexual people on campus. Unfortunately, these heterosexual allies will have few skills or resources available to them and no information to guide their own development or to help others become better advocates for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender student population. Heterosexual staff and faculty can have a significant effect on creating a positive culture on a college or university campus. Heterosexual allies are people who are supportive of gay, lesbian, and bisexual people. Allies of different groups of people, including racial/ethnic minorities, have been instrumental in affecting positive change in the dominant culture.

Student affairs professionals, administrators, and faculty only recently have begun to recognize the potential the development of heterosexual allies has for making the culture of a college or university campus more tolerant towards gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) students. Program interventions designed specifically for allies, such as Safe On Campus (Poynter & Schroer, in press) and Safe Zone (Hothem & Keen, 1998) are attempting to address the development of heterosexual allies while providing support to GLBT students. Typical components of these ally programs consist of a resource manual and sticker or sign. Some programs go as far as to require an orientation or training session(s) of varying length. Other components may include a listserv, advisory board/committee, web page resources, assessment, periodic socials, and identifying objects such as key chains, buttons, and pens.

There are no prepackaged safe zone kits for purchase; training models will be unique to each campus depending on the expertise and resources available to those creating the network. However, with a little searching, the resources needed to implement a "safe" ally program on your campus can be found. Some universities are utilizing the World Wide Web to share their ally programs. We don't have all the information but Emporia State University has marketed their program in the past (contact pride@emporia.edu).

Political Considerations
An attempt should be made to include administrators in the development of the program. Students often take it upon themselves to develop a "Safe" ally program assuming that the university administration will not be supportive. In this case it may be surprising the level of support that can be found by simply asking. Possible administrators to approach may include the Dean of Students, Vice President of Student Affairs, Director of Housing/Residence Life, Provost/Vice President of Academic Affairs, and even the President. Students should organize a committee or advisory board of faculty/staff that have previously shown their support in other ways. This committee will be crucial in providing support and recruitment of members in addition to legitimizing the program. In the end, at least notifying the administration insures that no bridges are burned. Of course any university office or department would want to follow this basic concept through their own established protocols when developing new programs.

There may be some resistance to posting a sign/sticker that is only for GLBT people. Some people, mainly faculty or staff, may say this is a "special" program and should include all people in a "safe" space. Questions may arise asking if racial and ethnic minorities are part of your "safe" program. Others may refuse to hang your sign/sticker or to be any part of the program because it is only for GLBT people. Still, some people will say "Are we going to have a sticker for every group of people on this campus?" One has to wonder why there is not a sign already posted in an office/department decrying racism and advocating inclusion in their office if it is such a big issue for them. Homophobia and heterosexism are also coming into play when hearing these remarks. The best way to respond to these remarks is to point out that the individuals that are posting your sign/sticker are pledging their support and understanding for GLBT people and that you are not asking for a department wide posting. It is important that the program not allow people that are not supportive of GLBT people. Posting a "Safe" sign/sticker really does convey a strong message of support as opposed to a blanket watered down statement of inclusion that probably already exists in the university anti-discrimination statement. Some colleges or universities, such as Indiana University (http://www.indiana.edu/~out/safezone) have avoided this issue all together by designing a program that is inclusive of everyone on campus.

Can you screen religious conservatives who want a sticker so they can "save" the students when they come to their offices?
The simple answer to this is yes. Some ally programs simply hand out their signs/stickers to whoever wants them assuming that they will hang them only if they are supportive. This may be the case, however, there have been instances where a conservative religious person posted their sign in order to attract GLBT students. This person may have genuinely thought that they were doing the right thing, but obviously this was not the intent of the program. The positive to simply handing out signs/stickers is that coverage of the ally program may be much wider than requiring that new members attend a training or orientation session. This wider coverage may outweigh any negative aspects of those with ulterior motives. Despite lower numbers by requiring an orientation session, you can assure that all the members are true allies because they are investing their time to attend the session. In addition you have the opportunity to have them sign a values statement where they affirm their support and affirmation of the identity of their GLBT students.

Does this sort of training make a difference?
Dann Hazel writes a column entitled, "We're All Friends Here." One installment is a a wonderful personal testimony of his experience attending a training for allies. It is called "Your Lives Will Change." It also includes a brief description of a guided imagery exercise using index cards. Youthresources.com has a virtual safe zone on-line. It provides resources of LGBT and questioning youth, websites of those participating in this safe zone, information on schools with safe zone programs, and more.

What about a Safe Zone program for the Greek system on my campus?
Lambda10 offers the Greek Safe Zone Ally Resource Guide for a mere $4.95. In it, you will find resources on how to develop a Greek Safe Zone Ally program and learn how to create a welcoming and supportive campus environment for LGBT students, faculty, and staff by creating a visible network of allies. This brief resource guide provides a collection of interventions previously published in Out on Fraternity Row and Secret Sisters. They also offer a Rainbow Pack for $45.95, which includes two large 11x17 posters, two medium 8x11 posters, five small 5x8 posters, twenty-five bookmarks, and fifty small stickers. In addition, they offer a Greek Safe Zone Ally T-Shirt ($22.95 each).