SIUE Safe Zone Hosts LGBTQIA+ Ally and Support Training for UF Health
The University of Florida (UF) Health is looking to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on creating a program similar to SIUE’s Safe Zone program. Safe Zone works to develop allies and provide support to LGBTQIA+ students, faculty and staff on SIUE’s campus. SIUE hosted a virtual training for several diversity champions from across the UF Health System.
“Florida is currently one of the most hostile states when it comes to LGBTQIA+ equality, in particular towards transgender and non-binary individuals,” said Nick Niemerg, assistant director of constituent relations for university advancement and president of the Queer Faculty and Staff Association. “I am so proud that the advocacy and education work that we do at SIUE was able to be shared with our new friends at UF Health.”
Niemerg and Liz Stygar, M.A., instructor of sociology, coordinated and led the training. They covered topics such as gender inclusive language, LGBTQIA+ identity and development, bystander intervention, and how to be an ally for the LGBTQIA+ community.
“The academic health center of UF Health is comprised of the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Dental Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Public Health,” said Lakesha Butler, PharmD, BCPS, CDFT, associate vice president and chief diversity officer at UF Health and former SIUE School of Pharmacy professor. “Representatives from these colleges voluntarily participated in a Safe Zone train-the-trainer workshop because of their commitment to creating a more inclusive environment.”
“We now have a network of allies armed with the pertinent tools, knowledge and resources to equip others, thanks to our expert facilitators, Liz and Nick,” she continued. “The goal is to soon create our own Safe Zone workshops offered to health professional students, faculty and staff.”
"I am encouraged by the group of folks at UF Health who want to engage their campuses in creating more inclusive spaces, places for LGBTQIA+ folks and allies to feel a sense of belonging,” said Stygar. “I think the participants in the training, who are volunteering to be trainers themselves, know the work ahead is steep; they're persisting with compassion. I am optimistic because there is power and strength in numbers.”
To learn more about SIUE’s Safe Zone visit siue.edu/lgbtqia.
Photo: (L-R) Nick Niemerg, assistant director of constituent relations for university advancement and president of the Queer Faculty and Staff Association and Liz Stygar, M.A., instructor of sociology.
