Central Washington University - Diversity Education Center : Safe Space

What if you're sitting with a group of friends, and a couple of them make a comment about gays - what could you do?

*ignore it
*refuse to laugh
*casually leave
*use "soft" confrontation and tell them it's not funny or nice
*offer information to give a different (more accurate) perspective
*ask them not to make such comments around you

What's hard about some of these responses?

*you could be ridiculed
*they might think you're gay
*friends might get mad at you
*create an awkward situation

What could you do if a friend tells you a "rumor" that a floor member is supposedly gay?

*ignore them
*tell them you couldn't care less
*tell them it doesn't matter to you if he/she is gay
*tell them it's harmful to pass on such information
*say that is he/she is gay , that it's his/her right to come out only to people if he/she wants to and they have no right to violate that trust.
*ask them not to tell anyone else
*talk about some of the abuse gays can experience from ignorant floor members

We do a lot of programming and activities in the residence halls and on campus designed for heterosexuals without considering the interest or needs of LGBT individuals. What are some examples of this?

*the dating game
*date parties
*Sadie Hawkins dances
*all dances
*Valentines' Day activities
*escort dinners and other activities that match up a woman's and men's floors
*using popular music with messages about heterosexuality, marriage, etc.
*dating auction