The GLBT Center has announced four educational initiatives for this academic year.

• The GLBT Advocate Program for 2020-2021 is accepting new registrations, and we are pleased to announce the creation of a student-centered track.
• In response to COVID-19, Project SAFE Ally Training has been moved to an online, self-paced Moodle course.
• This year also marks a collaboration between the College of Sciences, College of Natural Resources and the GLBT Center: the GLBT+ in STEM Program for students.

Read on for more information on each of these new educational initiatives.

Project SAFE Ally Training Online

Project SAFE Ally Training Online is accessible via REPORTER. The three-hour in-person workshop is now self-paced and available on-demand via Moodle. The course consists of four modules: Understanding Gender and Sexuality, Supporting Transgender Individuals, The Impact of Heterosexism and Cissexism, and Allyship and Resources. Each module offers videos, reflection opportunities and other activities to make this training as interactive as possible.

Once completed, participants are eligible to register as a Project SAFE Ally and receive a Project SAFE Ally placard for display on their office or residence hall doors. Completing this course also satisfies the workshop requirement for the GLBT Advocate Program, GLBT+ in STEM Program and GLBT Student Advocate Program.

Register for Project SAFE Ally Training Online

GLBT Student Advocate Program

The Student Advocate Program is a continuing education and engagement program for all undergraduate and graduate students (allies and LGBTQIA+) who want to expand their knowledge and skills. Through taking an intersectional look at the incredibly diverse GLBT community, participants gain a stronger understanding of inclusive practices, community building and collaborative advocacy. Through the Student Advocate Program, participants:

• explore the definitions of gender, sexuality, consent, attraction, coming out, microaggressions, homophobia, transphobia, oppression and/or privilege;
• reflect on how these core concepts apply to their lived experiences and are impacted by their own social identities;
• practice recognizing problematic comments, behaviors, policies and practices within their classrooms, residence halls, student organizations, and/or communities;
• develop skills to interrupt or challenge problematic comments, behaviors, policies and practices within their classrooms, residence halls, student organizations and/or communities;
• identify strategies to serve as active allies, advocates, and supports to peers in the GLBT community.

Participation in the Student Advocate Program requires a one-year commitment that may be renewed annually in subsequent years.

Participants must complete the following each academic year:

• attend one Student Advocate Program workshop;
• attend one GLBT Center event.

Workshop opportunities will be offered regularly throughout the year, including new on-demand online course options. Events will also be offered regularly, such as GLBT History Month, Trans Day of Remembrance and Lavender Graduation.

The Student Advocate Roundtable is a mid-year discussion for students to build community with each other. This guided reflection will model a social justice-oriented community through practicing identifying instances of oppression, debriefing successful and unsuccessful strategies for interrupting those instances, recognizing opportunities for advocacy within the institution and growing supportive connections with students.

Attendance at the Student Advocate Roundtable counts as an “event” credit toward the two requirements of the GLBT Student Advocate Program. Student participants will receive inaugural GLBT Student Advocate swag.

Register for the GLBT Student Advocate Program

GLBT Advocate Program for Faculty, Staff, and Community Members

The GLBT Advocate Program is a continuing education and engagement program for all faculty and staff (allies and LGBTQIA+) that provides participants with ongoing opportunities to learn and show their support as allies and advocates of the GLBT community.

Through engagement in intersectional, social justice, anti-oppression conversations about issues facing the incredibly diverse GLBT community, participants gain a stronger understanding of how to support GLBT students and colleagues, beyond our Project SAFE Ally Training. Through the GLBT Advocate Program, participants:

• identify and name examples of oppression at all levels as manifested in our classrooms, departments and communities;
• develop skills to address and interrupt oppression at all levels when encountered in our classrooms, departments, and communities;
• discover and exercise skills to advocate for the creation and expansion of inclusive spaces;
• identify the impact of one’s positionality (social identities; power and privilege) on the ability to disrupt problematic attitudes, behaviors, policies or actions;
• model a social justice-oriented community that offers peer support and coalition-building.

Participation in the GLBT Advocate Program requires a one-year commitment that may be renewed each subsequent year.

Participants must complete the following each academic year:

• Completion of one GLBT Advocate Program workshop;
• Attendance at one GLBT Center event.

Workshop opportunities will be offered regularly throughout the year, including new on-demand online course options. Events will also be offered regularly, such as GLBT History Month, Trans Day of Remembrance and Lavender Graduation.

We will also continue to offer the Lunch & Learn Series, designed to increase the skillsets of faculty and staff through dynamic community conversations. We are also launching the new Advocate Roundtable, a mid-year discussion for faculty and staff to build community with other Advocate Program participants. This guided reflection will model a social justice-oriented community through practicing identifying instances of oppression, debriefing successful and unsuccessful strategies for interrupting those instances, recognizing opportunities for advocacy within the institution and growing supportive connections with other faculty and staff.

Attendance at the Lunch & Learn Series and Advocate Roundtable count as “event” credits toward the two requirements of the GLBT Advocate Program. Participants will receive a GLBT Advocate placard for their office or workspace.

Register for the 2020-2021 Faculty and Staff GLBT Advocate Program

GLBTQ+ in STEM Program

Be a part of something new! Join the GLBTQ+ in STEM program hosted by the College of Sciences, College of Natural Resources and the GLBT Center. This new initiative is open to all NC State students who want to make a difference and be part of making NC State a more inclusive environment. Gain knowledge and skills for how to navigate STEM spaces with the goal of making spaces more welcoming so all can contribute to the work of solving societal problems. This entire program will take place virtually, so wherever you choose to study this fall, you can participate

• Interested in more? Fill out the interest form at go.ncsu.edu/glbtinstemprogram.

Andy DeRoin is assistant director in the GLBT Center.