A UNH Safe Zones training for the staff and faculty in your department / office provides an excellent opportunity to advance awareness, knowledge, and skills around the services and support that we provide to LGBTQIA+ students and colleagues. We "tailor" trainings based on the specific issues that participants may encounter in their particular workplace. NOTE: We prefer that requests are made at least 3 weeks prior to the training date requested. If we are able, we may consider requests with less advance notice.
Training Options for Staff & Faculty
Supporting LGBTQIA+ Students and Colleagues
Timeframe: 1-1.5 hours
This training provides an opportunity to further strengthen your knowledge and skills to be an effective ally to LGBTQIA+ students and colleagues. We will cover topics that will help you and your department develop strategies toward supporting LGBTQIA+ students and colleagues, and promote an inclusive and welcoming environment. Participants will engage in discussion around how to effectively respond to specific examples of homophobia, transphobia, heterosexism, genderism, and cisgenderism that LGBTQIA+ students may encounter at UNH or in your work area. Effectively responding to and preventing comments, bias, harassment, and discrimination is important toward furthering UNH’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
NOTE: This program will be "tailored" around the specific LGBTQIA+ issues that arise for you in your professional work/setting.
Being “Out” as LGBTQIA+ & Allies: Identities & Experiences
Timeframe: 1-1.5 hours
This program features a panel of UNH LGBTQIA+ students followed by an interactive Q & A discussion. LGBTQIA+ students will share how they identify within the LGBTQIA+ and Ally spectrum, personal experiences with coming out and reactions from friends and family, being LGBTQIA+ at UNH, examples of homophobia, transphobia, heterosexism, genderism, and cisgenderism, the personal impact of bias incidents, tips for heterosexual and cisgender allies, and beyond. This is an informal opportunity for the staff or faculty in your department / office to learn from the personal experiences of UNH LGBTQIA+ students, ask any questions, and hear open and honest responses.
Supporting Transgender & Gender Non-Conforming Students and Colleagues
Timeframe: 1-1.5 hours
This training encourages participants to think more broadly and intersectionally about the identities and experiences of transgender, gender queer, gender fluid, gender non-conforming, gender variant, and non-binary identifying students and colleagues. We will engage in interactive activities, scenarios, and discussion around how to support transgender and gender non-conforming students and colleagues in your professional work. Participants will develop an understanding of the bias incidents that transgender and gender non-conforming students and colleagues may experience, and the assumptions, perceptions, or stereotypes that people may make based on gender expression. As we consider specific scenarios of transphobic bias incidents that could and have happened at UNH, participants will discuss ways to respond, provide support to trans individuals, and be an ally.
