LGBTQIA students should have the right to feel safe in school. Being an ally doesn’t stop after pride month, let’s all play an active part in making our learning environment more inclusive.
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A Guide to Creating a Safe Space for LGBTQIA Students on Campus for Students and Educators
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What is a safe space?
In this context, a safe space is an inclusive and supportive environment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA) persons.
Ally-ship Matters:
Educators and students play a crucial role in creating a safe space through reaffirming practices and speaking out against prejudice. This enables LGBTQIA students to enjoy a more positive school experience
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Be a visible ally:
Making yourself, your classroom or office visible as a safe space allows yourself to be identified as someone to approach for support. Being a visible ally helps LGBTQIA students feel welcomed in school
Make your space visible
Post safe space materials such as stickers, posters or the pride flag
Display LGBTQIA supportive materials from LGBTQIA organizations, information about the LGBTQIA community, or quotes from famous LGBTQIA icons
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Make yourself visible
Wear a physical marker like a supportive wristband or pin
Show support on social media by adding pronouns on your profile (e.g he/him, she/her, they/them)
For educators, let other educators know your ally-ship and share with them the roles they too can play in supporting LGBTQIA students
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Choose the right words:
Being mindful of our conversations can challenge our own biases and avoid enforcing a heteronormative culture, this helps promote a greater sense of inclusivity
Make no assumptions about others' sexuality or gender identity when engaging with them
Use inclusive languages and gender-neutral terms
Avoid: “Girls and boys”, “boyfriend or girlfriend”, “he or she”
Try: “Everyone/students/classmates”, “partner/significant other”, “they”
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Responding to anti-LGBTQIA language and behaviors:
LGBTQIA students are at risk of being harassed and bullied. Unintentional anti-LGBTQIA language may also be used in casual conversations, such as using 'gay' as an insult.
Responding to these behaviors as educators sends a clear message that homophobia and transphobia is not tolerated in school. Students may also intervene in these situations to show support for their LGBTQIA peers.
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How educators should intervene in name-calling, bullying, and harassment:
Address name-calling, bullying or harassment immediately, focus on stopping the behavior in that moment
Name the behavior by describing what you saw
Use or create a teachable moment. Educate the students involved after stopping the behavior. This could be done publically in the moment or privately after
Support the targeted student. Check in on how they are feeling and if they need additional support. This can be done either in the moment or privately after as well
Hold students accountable. Check school policy and impose appropriate disciplinary actions
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How to support LGbTQIA students/peers when they come out to you:
Validate the person's gender identity and expression. Respect and refer to them with the pronouns appropriate to the person's gender from then on.
Listen. Coming out of the closet is often a long process, listen and offer support without judgement.
Remember that the person has not changed. They are still the same person as before. Sharing this personal information just shows that they trust and respect you. You may reassure them that your views of them have not changed.
Appreciate the person's courage and thank them for sharing this with you.
Assure and respect confidentiality. Just because someone had came out to you does not mean that they are ready to tell others. Respect their privacy and do not share the student or peer's personal information without their consent.
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Support LGBTQIA student clubs:
Supporting student clubs that focus on LGBTQIA issues enables them to reach a wider audience and to keep promoting greater inclusivity on campus
Follow them on social media and engage with their posts by liking, commenting and sharing their content
Participate in the various talks, workshops and activities they may organise
List of Singapore LGBTQIA organisations in institutes of higher education:
NTU Kaleidoscope (NTU)
QueerNUS (NUS)
TFreedom (NUS Tembusu College)
Gender Collective (NUS University Scholars Program)
EnCAPTsulate (NUS College of Alice & Peter Tan)
G spot (Yale-NUS College)
Out to Care (SMU)
Q-space (SIT)
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Source:
GLSEN Safe Space Kit, Guide To Being An Ally To LGBT Students, pg 11- 18
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