Safe Zone at Furman University is an educational program geared towards creating an inclusive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQIA+) students, faculty, and staff at Furman. The goal of this program is to raise awareness about the dynamics of gender and sexual orientation while exploring different ways to advocate for people of all orientations, genders, sexualities, identities. Safe Zone training is open to students, faculty, and staff.
This program is not active for the 2021-2022 Academic Year. The program is under review in order to best serve and honor the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community. We look forward to offering this workshop series during the 2022-2023 Academic Year.
Gender & Sexuality 101 (90-120 minutes) G&S 101 is an ideal workshop for those just starting out or those needing a refresher. The primary focus of this session is creating an understanding of the difference between gender identity and sexual orientation, Furman University policies and procedures, and the effect socialization has had on us as individuals. This session is highly interactive and focused on reflection by the participants. Participants are required to attend this before attending Visible Ally 201.
By participating in G&S 101, participants will receive: a placard stating the date they attended and a Safe Zone badge.
Visible Ally 201 (120 minutes) VA 201 is geared towards individuals looking to build on their experience in G&S 101. It is an interactive workshop that will train participants to understand what it means and how to be an LGBTQ+ ally. This training will also give participants a better understanding of heterosexual and cisgender privilege and how this relates to being an ally.
By attending Visible Ally 201, participants will be certified for three (3) years.
If you would like more information or have questions please email safezone@furman.edu.
To request a workshop, please complete the Safe Zone Workshop Request Form below .
For more information or questions please email safezone@furman.edu.
This form is currently not active.
Safe Zone Workshop Request Form
Engaging diversity is not limited to our encounters with people from different regional, class, racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. Meaningful difference comes about as well because people experience their genders and sexualities differently from the ways others do. We recognize and celebrate such differences, and provide a number of support services that foster the well-being and happiness of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer students.