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K-State Today

June 22, 2021

Safe Zone to host advanced workshop 'PRIDE: History and Celebration of LGBTQ+ Communities'

Submitted by Karsen L. Davis

Safe Zone Logo

Safe Zone, in the Department of Diversity and Multicultural Student Affairs, invites you to participate in the Safe Zone Advanced Workshop, "PRIDE: History and Celebration of LGBTQ+ Communities" from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, June 24, via Zoom.

This advanced workshop centers on LGBTQ+ communities and creating a basic understanding of the history and celebration of our LGBTQ+ communities. The workshop will focus on the history of LGBTQ+ Pride Month and the landmark events that have helped to shape the ongoing journey of equity and justice for historically excluded sexualities and gender identities. The session also engages the development of meaningful ways to provide an open and affirming educational environment for all students and community members.

Learning and understanding the history of LGBTQ+ communities enables us to promote authentic ally-ship. Authentic ally-ship is evident by providing visible support and in-depth knowledge of LGBTQ+ issues and language. Development of more in-depth skills in reaching students in need is essential in helping individuals of historically excluded and erased identities to feel affirmed and welcomed in majority identity spaces. By fulfilling the role of an authentic ally, individuals can recognize that they are not alone, and it models for other students that gay and transgender classmates are their peers, worthy of respect and acceptance.

Register for the June 24 Advanced Safe Zone Workshop.

Safe Zone continues to be part of Kansas State University's efforts to create an open and affirming campus since the 1970s. The architects of Safe Zone created educational opportunities to teach about discrimination around sexual orientation and other minoritized identities. The expanded Safe Zone created a more comprehensive and ever-evolving effort to fit the needs of current K-State community members. Safe Zone Allies acknowledge a variety of backgrounds and identities while teaching about navigating exclusionary acts like intimidation, micro and macro aggressions, discrimination, LGBTQ-related concerns, and sexual violence.

For more information, reach out to Debra Bolton, director of intercultural learning and academic success, at dbolton@k-state.edu; or Brandon Haddock, student services coordinator, intercultural learning/LGBT Resources Center, bhaddock@k-state.edu.