We seek to increase understanding and awareness of LGBTQIA+ student experiences by providing student panels to University classrooms and student organization meetings. Panels consist of 2-4 students who define LGBTQIA+ terminology, give campus resources, share their personal narratives and answer questions.
Faculty, staff and student organizations may request a student panels.
The primary purpose of the Safe Space program is to reduce homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and heterosexism on our campuses to make them a safer and freer environment for all members of the community, regardless of sexual or gender diversity.
This is accomplished through self-reflective and group-based work that will allow us to challenge our individual biases in order to better serve as a resource and support for our LGBTQIA+ students, faculty and staff.
Safe Space training strives to provide a way for understanding and supportive persons within the UMKC community to prominently identify their commitment as an ally. These students, faculty and staff proudly display a Safe Space sign on their doors or in their workspace to signify their commitment as a resource and open ear to our LGBTQIA+ community.
Our office currently offers three different trainings. While there is some overlap between these sessions, they also each have their own unique elements that differentiates them from one another. Our Just the Basics trainings offer an introduction and general overview to the topic while Safe Space focuses in on knowledge that allies might need to do allyship across campus.
Just the Basics: Trans 101
This training focuses in on understanding the differences between biological sex and gender, pronouns, and basic allyship actions. This training is approximately 1.5 hours.
Just the Basics: Sexual Orientation
This training focuses in on thinking through different types of attraction and unpacking our ideas around sexual orientation terminology. Some content in this training is also focues on a better understanding of pride flags and LGBTQIA history. This training is approximately 1.5 hours.
Safe Space
This training session pulls apart our interconnected understanding of biological sex, gender, and sexual orientation to better examine all identities. Additionally, participants can expect to discuss privilege, allyship, and basic ways to help improve spaces for LGBTQIA folks. This training is approximately 3 hours.
You can request a training by emailing our team at lgbtqia@umkc.edu with Safe Space Training in the subject line.
Are you a graduate student, professional student, faculty member, or staff who is interested in working to expand our Safe Space training offerings? Contact Zach Parker, Assistant Director, at zparker@umkc.edu to talk through your ideas.