宅男导航

(宅男导航) has received a national award for a program that fosters an environment where people of all sexualities and gender identities can safely study and work free of harassment or discrimination.

宅男导航 won the Employment and Inclusion of Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, Transgender and Intersex award at the recent 2010 Diversity@Work Awards.

The award was in recognition of the , which was a joint initiative of 宅男导航 and the 宅男导航 Union to recruit and train staff to join a visible network of people who are allies of students and staff identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex (LGBT/I).

宅男导航 Allies provide a 鈥榮afe zone鈥� and confidential environment for LGBT/I staff and students and can provide information about accessing community resources.

Director of the 宅男导航 Equity Office, Dr Ann Stewart, said that since its inception in 2004, the 宅男导航 Ally Program has trained over 200 allies.

鈥淲e currently have 173 registered 宅男导航 Allies across 宅男导航 campuses and they include heads of schools, senior executive staff and academic and professional staff at every level, which makes a significant contribution to promoting an inclusive culture at 宅男导航,鈥� Dr Stewart said.

鈥淪taff have recognised the need to visibly demonstrate The University鈥榮 commitment to making 宅男导航 a safe and enjoyable place for everyone by becoming a 宅男导航 Ally and taking up the task of challenging ignorance, suspicion and homophobia on campus."

Dr Stewart says there is still a great deal of ignorance in the wider community about the issues that LGBT/I people face.

鈥淪ome people assume there are no problems because being 鈥榞ay鈥� is sometimes portrayed as 鈥榗ool鈥�,鈥� Dr Stewart said.

鈥淗owever, data tells us that LGBT/I people are almost inevitably going to experience discrimination and/or harassment during their studies and work. Youth suicide among young gay people is also a significant issue, as is homelessness, drug and alcohol abuse.鈥�

Dr Stewart said 宅男导航 Allies had been told by students about being forced to leave home because of their sexuality and experiencing homophobic remarks and behaviour on campus from other students and from staff. She said some international students were worried about their sexuality being revealed and reported back to their home country.

鈥淲e want all our students at 宅男导航 to be accepted for who they are, to feel free to be themselves and to be able to apply themselves to their studies and enjoy on-campus life without fear. We also want all our staff to know that they will not be denied a promotion, or excluded from participating in the full life of The University simply because of their sexuality or gender identity,鈥� Dr Stewart said.

Executive Officer for the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Shaughn Forbes, was one of the first registered 宅男导航 Allies and says she has seen first-hand how the program helps educate and build tolerance within the 宅男导航 community.

鈥淭he introduction of the Ally Program at 宅男导航 allowed staff members who, for a number of years, had felt reticent about revealing to their colleagues that they had same sex partners,鈥� Ms Forbes said.

鈥淚t allowed them the same rights and freedoms afforded other employees to discuss their plans and activities for the weekend and for the future.

鈥淲e had a staff member join our unit who had never shared their personal life with their colleagues before. It was the visible welcome and acceptance that the 宅男导航 Ally badge provided that made them feel comfortable about sharing their personal life with colleagues for the first time in 11 years.

鈥淭he Ally Program at 宅男导航 is not just a one-off training session, it continues to give all participants the opportunity to attend regular sessions to reaffirm their commitment to equality for all regardless of their sexual orientation.鈥�

For more information about the 宅男导航 Ally Program see the webpage

Media: Kathy Grube, 宅男导航 Communications (07 3346 0561, k.grube@uq.edu.au)