Safe Zones

Safe Zones serve as a source of support and information, free of judgment and hostility. They display the Safe Zone logo to indicate that they have completed Safe Zone training and have signed a contract expressing their commitment to Safe Zone policies and procedures. Safe Zones are also expected to challenge assumptions and prejudices related to sexual orientation and gender and to address heterosexist comments or behaviors in an educational and informative manner.

More Safe Zone Resources:

Goals of the Safe Zone Program:

To increase the campus community’s understanding and awareness of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and questioning/queer (LGBTIQ) issues
To provide a greater sense of safety for the LGBTIQ student community
To offer information to straight allies of LGBTIQ people.
To act as a resource for information related to combating homophobia, heterosexism, transphobia and other LGBTIQ misinformation and misconceptions

Safe Zones at Rhodes:

Between 5-7 Safe Zone training sessions facilitated by the Campus Counseling Center take place during each school year
Safe Zones include faculty and staff members and students who participate in such organizations as Residence Life, the Women’s Center and the Gay-Straight Alliance
As of the 2007-08 school year, 40 faculty , 34 staff members and 24 students have undergone Safe Zone training, with a total of 93 participants currently active
In addition to being allies for individual LGBTIQ students, Safe Zone participants attend a series of Brown Bag Lunch sessions throughout the school year to foster discussion around issues such as being transgender in college, coming out to friends, family and parents, and dealing with homophobia and heterosexism on campus

Active Safe Zone Participants:

Stacy Allen, Jennifer Arm, Sarah Barowka, Jessica Batey,La Banks, Ashley Bianchi, John Blaisdell, Jennifer Brady, Tom Bremer, Maragaret Carne, Jyo Carolino, Carol Casey, Anna Casteen, Mary Allison Cates, Amanda Cellini, Kevin Collier, Diana Comes, Jessica Copeland, Ashley Cundiff, Samantha Daniel, Anita Davis, Teresa Delfin, Pam Detrie, Aubrey Diaz, Robert Dove, Julia Draper, Michael Drompp, Albernie Ferguson, Dee Garceau-Hagen, Alexandra Garris, Elizabeth Gates, Timothy Gibson, Eric Gottlieb, M.L. Gough, Sara Gremillion, Judith Haas, Erin Harmon, Amanda Irwin, Cristina Iskander, Alan Jaslow, David Jilg, Bob Johnson, Leigh Johnson, Brian Jones, Daney Kepple, David Kesler, Caroline King, Susan Kus, Kathleen LaaksoMarcus Langford, Michael LaRosa, Sara LaPlante, Chris Lemke, Marie Lindquist, Darlene Loprete, Jessica Lotz, Marianne Luther, David McCarthy, Melissa Butler McCowen, Bernadette McNary-Zak, Tiffany Merritt, Deseree Meyer, Erica Murrell, Scott Newstok, Amy Oakes, Elin Overebo, Natalie Person, Judy Pierce, Noah Pittman, Marcus D. Pohlmann, Cynthia Polk-Johnson, Mikkel Quam, Stephen Rintoul, Patrick Vernon, Michelle Voss Roberts, Amy Ross, Jennifer Ross, John Russ, Carla Shirley, Jenna Smith, Mark Smith, Richard Sparrow, Julie Steel, Robert Strandburg, Gail Streete, Stephanie Swindle, Walt Tennyson, Sandy George Tracy, Anna Underwood, Dwaun Warmack, Whitney Warren, Chenobia Webster, Katie Zisson

LGBTIQ Resources

o Memphis Gay & Lesbian Community Center

o Human Rights Campaign

o Support for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual or Transgendered People - PFLAG

o Support for Family and Friends of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or Transgendered People - PFLAG

o Transgenderism & Gender Identity - PFLAG

o Faith, Homosexuality, & Our Families

o Coming Out - Should You? How To?

o Questioning your Sexual Orientation

o Being Gay, Being Lesbian

Do you have questions about the Rhodes Safe Zone program? Contact Pam Detrie (detriep@rhodes.edu) for more information!