This campus has several amazing resources for the LGBTQ+ community and their straight allies, but most don’t get the recognition they deserve. Two of these resources are Spectrum and Safe Zones.
Spectrum is a spectacular organization, and its leaders Sarah Kerndt, Elizabeth “E” Storm, Tyrell Cooper, Brent Frost, and Cassie Porter help to make the club’s environment extremely welcome. You become part of their family and they offer you the support you need.
Spectrum creates a safe environment for the LGBTQ+ community and their straight allies here on campus. They have monthly meetings which consist mainly of teaching people how to be considerate of others. The organization pushes to teach about the different groups in the community, including ones the club members may not have known about.
“We are the only gender and sexual diversity club on campus,” said Storm. They hope to bring acceptance and awareness for diversities on campus.
Once a month, Spectrum’s meetings will involve “Speak Out Loud!” in which a professional adult who is part of the LGBTQ+ community gives life advice, tips, and more about how they’ve dealt with being part of the community.
Spectrum is also huge on the promotion of safe sex. They’re the only organization that gives students free condoms, and they’re petitioning the clinic on campus to hand condoms out as well. They also donate the money they raise to ACCESS AIDS Care, an organization in the Hampton Roads area that helps those affected directly and indirectly by AIDS.
This organization is amazing and so are all of the people involved in it. They truly provide a welcoming environment for those who need it. And if you want to be an ally, don’t be afraid to show your support. As Cassie Porter says, “Don’t be afraid of being labeled gay because being labeled as gay isn’t a bad thing.”
Another great resource on campus for the LGBTQ+ community are Safe Zones. These Safe Zones are indicated by stickers outside of a faculty member’s door, and they symbolize that the particular faculty member’s office is a space where you can be who you are.
In order to become a Safe Zone, you have to go through training. The training involves two workshops. The first workshop focuses on the challenges that the LGBTQ+ community faces, which allows for those in training to understand the different aspects of the community. The second workshop is about transgender people and legal advocacies that go along with the entire trans community. This leads to discussions on what can be done to fix these problems.
Ben Cowmen brought Safe Zones back to campus last year in November. “It’s important to create an inclusive community,” said Cowmen. “There should be a sense of belonging for everyone on campus.”
Safe Zones are here to create a support system and create straight allies that are familiar with the community. And while training is more geared toward faculty, students are welcome to attend it as well. As of right now, 75 faculty members have become Safe Zones.
Find out more about Safe Zones and how to become one at www.safezone.cnu.edu. This website also provides more resources for the members of the community.
These two resources are amazing and so are the people that are involved with them. They’re here if you need them and if you want to get more involved in helping the community.