Joseph Dunnigan, PhD
Anne Weese, PhD
OSU STUDENT COUNSELING CENTER
Purpose
 Develop and maintain a group of individuals who
will support, affirm, and provide resources to the
LGBT community.
 Membership is Voluntary
 Confidentiality needs to be respected
 Don’t be afraid to ask questions/make mistakes
Objectives
 Defining a Common Language
 Exploring Common Issues
 Coming Out
 Being an effective Ally
LGBT Population
Population Statistics:
 3.5% to 10% identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual
- 11 to 31 million
 1% to 2% identify as transgender
- 3 to 6 million
-Source US Census 2010, Williams Institute 2011
On Campus:
 Studies show LGBT individuals as the least accepted group when
compared with other under-served populations and, consequently,
more likely to indicate deleterious experiences and less than welcoming
campus climates based on sexual identity.
Source: Campus Pride 2010
Definitions
 Gay
 Trans Man/
 Lesbian
Male
 Trans Woman/
Female
 Intersex
 Homophobia
 Heterosexism
 Bisexual
 Transgender
 Queer
 Questioning
 Cisgender
Gender/Sex/Attraction
Language Considerations
● Homosexual - more associated with medical
terminology
● Sexual Preference/lifestyle - indicates choice and
minimizes significance of attraction
● Pronoun usage - preferred and plural as singular
You are the Ally
A student comes to you in distress and informs you
that they felt discriminated against in class. The
student, self identifies as a lesbian and reports that
during a lecture their professor equated same-sex
marriage as a gateway towards making all sexual
deviancy (including pedophilia) legal.
Common Issues
Hate crimes legislation
Child custody, foster care, adoption
Programs/activities for LGBT community
LGBT education in public schools
Workplace issues
Physical & Mental health issues/AIDS-HIV
 “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Policy”
 Marriage equality, civil unions “Defense of
Marriage Act”






Same Sex Marriage
 On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states
cannot prohibit the issuing of marriage licenses to same-sex
couples, or to deny recognition of lawfully performed out-ofstate marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
 January 6th, 2014 Department of Defense extends benefits to
same-sex couples
 May 9th, 2012 Barack Obama openly supports same-sex
marriage
Oklahoma Reaction
 Representative Sally Kern
“Oklahoma, or any state for that matter, should not have unelected judges who are
not accountable to the people deciding what the laws will be, Oklahoma voters, at
76 percent, defined marriage a one man and one woman. I am calling on my
colleagues and the governor to stand in unity that Oklahoma will let Oklahoma
decide what marriage is and should be. Every child deserves a mother and a
father, and only natural marriage provides that.”
Prejudice Effects Everyone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFxk7glmMbo
Microaggressions
● Everyday verbal, behavioral, or systemic indignities,
whether intended or unintended, that convey hostility,
derogatory, or unfavorable slights toward people who
belong to marginalized groups (Sue et al., 2007)
● Verbal Example: “I’m tolerant, I just don’t want people’s
relationships shoved in my face.”
● Behavioral Example: Splitting the class into gendered
groups
● Systemic Example: Access to restrooms.
Coming OUT
Deciding to Tell
Others
Coming Out
 What is coming out?
 Risks and benefits of coming out?
- Personally
- Professionally
If you had to come out today?
 Who would you have to come out?
 How many people would probably support you?
 How many people would you fear telling?
 Would it be different if you were coming out as LGB
instead of Trans?
 Do you know who would be in your support system?
 Where would you turn for help?
Considerations
An Ally is:
● sensitive to LGBT issues
● aware that people don’t choose gender identity or
affectional orientation
● aware of personal biases & how these operate in their life
● expected to make mistakes but do not use it as an excuse
for non-action
● aware of possible prejudice that may occur to them as an
ally
● Considers the impact of neutrality
Considerations
● Inclusiveness involves everyone
● Don’t assume that everyone is heterosexual or cisgender
● Avoid language that implies all people are “single, married,
or divorced”
● Absence of sexual diversity as “an issue” does not mean it is
not important or relevant
● Don’t assume someone’s orientation or identification based
on stereotypes
● Don’t assume that your experience as an ally (including
training) makes you an expert on LGBT issues
You are the Ally
A co-worker states that she is uncomfortable with a
colleague who has self-identifed as gay. The coworker does not use any disparaging language, but
states that she does not have any experience with
“people like that” and finds it confusing.
Supporting and Referring
Supporting:
 Talk privately
 Show concern and interest
 Recognize the courage it took to talk to you
 Invite them to follow up with you
 Help them make appointments or go with them
 Introduce them to supportive others
 Let them know nothing is wrong with them for seeking support
Referring
 Present referral to others as an opportunity
 Consult with a counselor
Resources at OSU
 Counseling Center
 Residential Life
 Student Conduct, Education and Administration
 Campus Police
 OSQ&A (Oklahoma State Queer and Allies)- Undergrad
 GSSO (Gender And Sexuality Student Outreach)- Undergrad
 Office of Multicultural Affairs
 eQual- Gay/Straight Faculty Staff Alliance
 Gender and Women’s Studies
 Page 21
Safe Zone Contract
 What is it?
 Do I have to sign it?
 What do I do next?
 Evaluations
Oklahoma State University
Student Counseling Center
320 STUDENT UNION
405-744-5472
STILLWATER, OK 74078