LGBT Students Could Benefit From an Ally

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 28, 2011) -- University of Kentucky students are invited to learn how to become an ally to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) members of the campus community at an event scheduled 6-9 p.m. Sept. 29, in 359 Student Center.

The Office of Student Involvement's Diversity Education component is partnering with the UK Community Ally Network (UKCAN) to facilitate the "Becoming an Ally" workshop. The workshop will introduce students to issues associated with LGBT students through dialogue, education and activities.

The workshop is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills to become allies of inclusion and builders of safe zones through dialogue, education and activities. UKCAN will facilitate the September workshop. An event in the Diversity in Leadership Series organized by Diversity Education, "Becoming an Ally" is part of a larger campus initiative to make the campus more inclusive through education, collaboration and administration.

In 2009, the Diversity Education & Community Building component (DE&CB) was cultivated as a result of a partnership between the Office of Institutional Diversity and the Office of Student Involvement at UK. The component assists in sustaining an active campus community that embraces difference and respects cultural and self-identity. DE&CB facilitates inclusive learning experiences of students where all can engage, break barriers, and build collaborative relationships. DE&CB also acts as the home office for the CATalyst: UK's Diversity Peer Educators, Voices and Faces, Boxes and Walls, and partners with various initiatives and programmatic efforts across campus and beyond. Visit http://www.uky.edu/Diversity/diversityed.html for more information.

University of Kentucky Community Ally Network provides safe zone training and ally development/support at the University of Kentucky.

For more information, contact Robert Odom at rod223@uky.edu with questions regarding the workshop.