Starter Kit Resource - Friends and Allies of LGBTQ

If you are looking to start a Friends and Allies of LGBTQ-like initiative at your institution, the follow suggestions and resources may help get you started in the right direction:

1. Go on a fact finding mission. Research what type of committee work may already be in place, or what type of student club/organization may already be established. If there is a presence(s) already in existence, connect with the individuals behind the group(s) and begin a collaboration session. Identify what their mission(s) is, what they are doing and not doing. Based on the information gathered, you can better identify the scope of your envisioned Friends and Allies of LGBTQ initiative, and cross-collaborate with the already established entities at your institution.
2. Get the word out and meet. Once you have identified the scope or initial work that your Friends and Allies of LGBTQ initiative has cut out for it, use the communications in place at your institution to invite your colleagues, students, etc. to an initial meeting to do a meet-and-greet, confirm members or commitment of support and overall direction, goals, mission, etc.
3. Study/review Safe Zone material. Feel free to download TMCC's Friends and Allies of LGBTQ Safe Zone training presentation material that follows. None of it is "set in stone." Please feel free to adapt the material to your needs.
   • Safe Zone Training Presentation
   • Facilitator Outline
   • Riddle Homophobia Scale
   • "How Do You Feel About Gay Life?" Self-Reflection?
   • "Gay Identification" Questions for Dyad Group Activity
4. Contact Current Friends and Allies of LGBTQ. Contact institutions that already have a Friends and Allies of LGBTQ estbalished to answer questions, provide advise, etc. If you are in the Reno, NV area, TMCC's Friends and Allies of LGBTQ are more than happy to provide a "train-the-trainers" session.
5. Create Safe Zone Signage. As your group begins to provide Safe Zone training, and as attendees that choose to be a friend and ally, they need to have a visual way to designate their working area as a "Safe Zone." At TMCC, we have created the following as our signage.
   
   [See Large Version]
   
   If, within your group, you do not have someone able to create signage/design for your group, consider seeking the assistance of your institution's creative/graphics department.
6. Provide Safe Zone Training. If you have a professional development-like office at your institution, consider working with them to schedule and incorporate your Safe Zone trainings as part of the on-going trainings offered to your organization.
7. Ask for assistance. If you hvae any questions on starting a Friends and Allies of LGBTQ initiative or have questions along the way, please feel free to contact the TMCC Friends and Allies of LGBTQ.