Queer Ally Roles/Responsibilities

From Space

Contents 1 Provide a confidential, safe and supportive environment 2 Provide information relating to gender and sexual diversity as well as relevant support groups 3 Challenge invisibility of gender and sexual diversity 4 Advocate around queer issues 5 Editing

Ally-related articles

• Allies head-off campus homophobia
• The importance of being an ally

Listed below are the key roles and responsibilities of Queer Allies. The practical ideas suggested are in draft form and will be updated and edited over time.

Provide a confidential, safe and supportive environment

• Have an open door policy

• Put up Rainbow stickers - on our door and GLBTI poster/s in our office - to show we're supportive of GLBTI people
• Advertise RMIT staff who are part of the Network.

Provide information relating to gender and sexual diversity as well as relevant support groups

• Promote the SPACE: Queer Allies wiki (http://space.dsc.rmit.edu.au) to our students

• Make a Queer space near our offices - on a noticeboard [It's located on the 3rd floor of Building 220 at RMIT, Bundoora West]

• Invite people into the university that have traditionally not been seen or who have been positioned negatively.

• Invite agencies into the university that promote diversity agendas that we want to see taken up in schools.

• Work in partnership with agencies that may not be queer friendly in ways that insist on this.

Challenge invisibility of gender and sexual diversity

• Mention GLBTI issues in lectures and tutorials. Show that we're fine with queer issues.

• Make links to gender/sexuality issues in terms of 'Inclusive Practice'

• Link Queer Issues to the topic of 'Othering'

• Challenge stereotyping. Stereotyping affects those who don't do their gender the 'right' way

• Advertise the SPACE: Queer Allies Network

• Show that we're open and aware - and that we encourage talking about sexuality issues

• Discuss the 'centre' too...don't leave it as an unexamined taken for granted natural space because not discussing it positions it as such

• If you are 'straight' throw out the occasional hint that you might not be.

Advocate around queer issues

• We have a voice. There are things that we can do.

• Intervene if people are openly targeted whilst recognising that homophobia also occurs when we're not around.

• Challenge the silence surrounding queer sexualities.

• Don't let issues ride - that's tacit approval.

• Allow for incidental discussion of gender/sexuality issues. Show that it's okay to talk about.

• Make local connections (for example, in our suburb) - as well as big picture connections.

• Challenge the 'middle' as well...taken for granted common sense centre...what is holding this in place? What do people gain in this place? What investments do people have in reproducing the centre (or the edge)?

Editing

• Only Queer Allies are able to add/change content on this wiki
• Not sure how to edit? Go here