Get in the Zone
Written By Asia Howe
“The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.” – Nathaniel Branden
Take the time to roam the campus and you will surely see a varicolored sticker in the shape of the Big Island with the words “safe zone” printed upon it. While the sticker seems no larger than four to five inches tall and three inches wide, it serves a powerful purpose. When placed on a door, this door tag identifies University of Hawaii at Hilo students, staff members, and faculty peers who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA) allies.
“I was Safe Zone trained during my first semester working with the Women’s Center,” senior and psychology major V. Singh states. “Becoming Safe Zone trained was very important to me because though I thought I knew a great deal about the LGBTQIA community there is always a bit more to learn. [Also,] I wanted to make sure I had an official door dec to display so that my residents would know I am Safe Zone trained. (I refer to “my residents” because I am a Resident Assistant in Hale ‘Ikena. Often, LGBTQIA individuals live in housing and may need someone to speak to.)”
The Women’s Center offers two Safe Zone training sessions per a semester. These sessions, which are stand-alone and not dependent on one another, gives students, staff members, and faculty peers the opportunity to learn about and develop an awareness of the LGBTQIA community. Those who attend a session will not only take advantage of a learning opportunity, but acquire the information they need to render the campus and the community within it inclusive. Although there is a lecture and a presentation, sessions are very interactive as there are group activities and discussion breaks throughout them.
“The two hour training seeks to educate allies about various LGBTQIA resources and help[] them to understand some of the issues LGBTQIA individuals face,” Singh states.
Senior, psychology major, and current Safe Zone Coordinator, Vijaya Singh. Photo courtest of V. Singh.
The Safe Zone trained senior did not just receive a certificate and door tag for attending a session. “When I heard,” she admits, “that the previous Safe Zone Coordinator was stepping down I jumped at the opportunity. My goal for this semester is to try to get more students involved in this training because as much as LGBTQIA individuals need individuals in positions of power to be Safe Zone trained, they need the knowledge and understanding Safe Zone training provides from peers.”
Singh continues, “This semester, I am applying my outreach skills to Safe Zone training. As I mentioned, my goal is to have more students … Safe Zone trained so that LGBTQIA individuals can have a community … who are more understanding and knowledgeable of their situation.” The Safe Zone trainer could not discuss any learning experiences she has had in her position. Since the February 10th session will be her first time training other people, she has yet to have them, but she sounds sure that she will.
About the usefulness of Safe Zone training, Singh concedes, “The trainees or allies can apply what they learn about inclusiveness to every aspect of their life, not just the LGBTQ[IA] community. The LGBTQIA identity is an invisible identity. You don’t know whether or not you’re interacting with a member of the LGBTQIA community so, yes, you should be Safe Zone trained.”
The two Safe Zone trainings being offered by the Women’s Center this semester are on February 10 and April 13. The former session will be held in Campus Center (CC) 306; the latter in CC 301. Both run from 6 pm to 8 pm. Interested individuals may sign up for either session here.
