A Guide for Brown University Safe Zone Program Participants 2009-2010 Resources and information for people who serve as allies to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning community. The Brown University Safe Zone program is run out of the Brown University LGBTQ Resource Center. Table of Contents: Safe Zone Program Introduction ………………………………………….……………………..... 3 About This Manual ……………………………………………………………………………..… 4 Becoming an Ally: Benefits & Risks ……………………………….……………………………. 4 Sexual Orientation ………………………………………………..…………………………….. 6 Glossary of Terms: Sexual Orientation……………………….……………………… 7 What is Bisexuality? ……………………………………..…..……………………….. 9 ―Coming Out‖ Issues .………….……………………………..…………..……………. 11 What Is Heterosexual Privilege? ……………………………………………………..... 13 How Homophobia Hurts Everyone ……………………………..…………………..… 15 ―Straight But Not Narrow‖: How to be an Ally to Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual People … 16 Gender Identity …………………………………………………………………..……………. 17 Glossary of Terms: TGI……………………………………………………………….. 17 Trans/Transgender Issues……………………………………………………………… 21 Intersex Issues………………………..…………………………………………………. 23 Androgyne, Genderqueer, Bi-Gender, & Multigender Issues ….……………..……….. 24 Working with Trans People: Some Things to Keep In Mind……………….…………. 25 How to be an Ally to Trans People………………………………….………….………. 26 ―What Should I Do If…?‖ Commonly Asked Ally Questions……….……………….…………. 27 Online Resources………………..…………………………………………………….…………. 31 Reporting Gender & Sexuality-Related Bias Incidents…………………………………………. 32 The Brown Safe Zone is a campus-wide program sponsored by the LGBTQ Resource Center that encourages members of the community to identify themselves as visible supporters of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning) life at Brown. Through this program, the LGBTQ Resource Center strives to foster an environment in which LGBTQ community members feel welcome, affirmed, and safe. (Rev. 1/09) Questions? Contact the LGBTQ Resource Center at 863-3062, or stop by Faunce House Room 321. Email: [email protected] Web: www.brown.edu/lgbtq. Much of this material is adapted from the Ohio State University H.E.R.O. Program Handbook and from Lifelines Rhode Island (www.lifelinesri.org). Thanks also to Transgender Nation and to the NGLTF Policy Institute. Brown Safe Zone Manual 2 Safe Zone Program Introduction Who can participate in the program? Anyone in the Brown community can be a Brown Safe Zone participant, including faculty, staff, and students. It is hoped that community members of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions will become participants. What is expected of Brown Safe Zone participants? Participants are expected to display the Brown Safe Zone symbol in a visible location in their office, cubicle, room, etc. The Safe Zone symbol identifies you as someone who is a supporter of LGBTQ community members and someone who is committed to creating an environment free of homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, heterosexism, and bias. As a Safe Zone participant you should read through these materials thoroughly so that you are comfortable when LGBTQ community members approach you to talk about LGBTQ-related issues. You should be familiar with the resources outlined in this booklet so that you are prepared to refer LGBTQ people to these resources if necessary. If possible, read additional materials on your own to further your knowledge beyond the basics. Finally, you are expected to utilize LGBTQ campus resources (e.g., LGBTQ Resource Center) when you are unsure of how to help someone who has sought out information. What resources are available to Brown Safe Zone participants? The Brown Safe Zone is administered by the LGBTQ Resource Center, which is available to all participants for consultation and/or referral when they need help supporting or assisting LGBTQ people and other community members. In addition to the LGBTQ Resource Center this booklet is your main resource as a Safe Zone participant. As stated above, all participants are expected to become familiar with this booklet which contains the following information: How to identify and confront heterosexism and homophobia Campus LGBTQ resources LGBTQ-related terms An overview of Trans/Transgender Issues How to be an effective ally to LGBTQ community members The coming out process Commonly asked questions related to LGBTQ issues How to report anti-LGBTQ harassment and violence How do I become a Brown Safe Zone participant? Anyone members can request a Brown Safe Zone symbol by contacting the LGBTQ Resource Center at 863-3062 or [email protected]. After becoming familiar with all of the materials that are sent with the Brown Safe Zone symbol, you will be prepared to post the symbol in a visible location so that community members know that you are informed about and sensitive to LGBTQ issues and concerns. Brown Safe Zone Manual 3 About This Manual This booklet has been designed to help you learn more about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer issues. It is meant to be used as a guide with the understanding that not all individuals use the same definitions for all the terminology and concepts outlined in this book. Learning about Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer and Questioning (LGBTQ) issues is a lifelong process and you should not expect to learn everything you need to know quickly. In addition, there is a lot of information that is not included in this booklet. Once you become familiar with the terminology and concepts outlined here you'll be able to expand your knowledge by seeking out additional resources. If you choose to display the Brown Safe Zone decal, please do so responsibly. Become familiar with the information in this booklet and be able to identify the resources on campus so that you may best be able to assist students, faculty and staff members who seek you out as a Safe Space resource. This booklet is divided into two main sections, one that discusses sexual orientation and one that discusses gender identity. We have divided the booklet this way to help distinguish the differences between these two topics. There are some similarities in the issues that are discussed and as a result there will be some references to gender identity in the sexual orientation section and vice versa. There are, however, many differences and it is important to understand these as two separate topics of discussion. Sexual orientation refers to an identity that describes a person’s emotional, physical, affectional and/or sexual attraction towards another person. Gender identity refers to a person’s inner sense of being a man, woman, a little both, neither man or woman, gender-queer person, bi-gender person, trans person, etc. We provide more in depth definitions of these terms in each section as well a glossary of other terms that you might encounter. It will be important for you to remember that each identity that we outline is a little different from the other. There is a great diversity within the LGBTQ community, not only in terms of sexual orientation and gender identity, but also in terms of race, class, religion, nationality and other identities that come into play. As you read through this booklet please keep in mind that each individual has a unique experience and use this as a guide to understanding rather than a completely comprehensive manual. Becoming an Ally: Risks and Benefits What is an ally? An ally is a member of the dominant social group who takes a stand against social injustice directed at a target group(s) – for example, white people who speak out against racism, or heterosexual individuals who speak out against heterosexism or homophobia. An ally works to be an agent of social change rather than an agent of oppression. When a form of oppression has multiple target groups, as do racism, ableism, and heterosexism, target group members can be allies to other targeted social groups (African Americans can be allies to Native Americans, blind people can be allies to people who use wheelchairs, and lesbians can be allies to bisexuals). Brown Safe Zone Manual 4 Allies should remember that members of groups that face oppression: Don’t always want to be ―teachers‖ to allies Don’t represent all members of a particular group May be members of more than one group that faces oppression May not describe themselves the same way as other members of a particular group Know what it feels like to be both targeted and made ―invisible‖ Can be prejudiced themselves May tire of answering questions about their cultures and their lives Often get tired of and resent stereotyping Can become weary, anxious, irritable, or angry because of living in the dominant culture Do not necessarily want to become more like the dominant culture in attitudes or behavior May share some of the same values as the dominant culture Do not appreciate appropriation of their cultures by non-members Have been a part of history, art, science, religion and education, but their contributions have often been ignored or downplayed Some benefits of being an ally to LGBTQ people: You learn more accurate information about the reality of being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. You open yourself up to the possibility of close relationships with a wider range of people. You become less locked into gender-role expectations and stereotypes. You increase your ability to have close relationships with same-gender friends. You have opportunities to learn from, teach, and have an impact on a population with whom you might not have otherwise interacted. You empower