What is the Safe Space Program at Concordia College?

In 1996 the bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Churches of America published a pastoral letter on homosexuality and the church. In the letter they urged Lutheran congregations to be "safe places for those who are persecuted or harassed in our society" and "to extend a caring welcome for gay and lesbian persons and their families" . With this message in mind a number of faculty and staff members at Concordia College have joined together to provide "safe spaces" for members of the campus community who may be dealing with or about gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender issues.

Mission Statement

The purpose of the Safe Space Program is to make the Concordia College campus a safer and freer environment for all members of our community regardless of sexual orientation. Safe Space faculty and staff members pledge to be confidential, non-judgmental and supportive contacts for members of the Concordia College community who may be dealing with gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender issues. The Safe Space Program also strives to educate the campus community about the program.

What it means to be a Safe Space participant

  • Be open to questions from and about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people and their issues. Questions may come from students who identify as GLBT or are questioning their sexual orientation. Additionally, questions may come from students who are heterosexual and who are disturbed by the presence of an GLBT person in their classes, residence hall or family. Colleagues also may have questions.
  • Support policies that make the Concordia College campus a "safe space" for GLBT students, staff and faculty.
  • Encourage others to become a part of the Safe Space program. The more willing people are to talk about these issues with facts and openness, the safer our campus will become for GLBT people.

How to participate in the Safe Space Program

  • Attend a Safe Space Orientation Workshop, which examines attitudes and beliefs, raises awareness, builds skills, and offers resources.
  • After attending workshop, display the Safe Space sticker on your office door.

The Purpose of the Safe Space Sticker

  • The sticker helps to convey a message that you are supportive, trustworthy and sensitive to the needs and concerns of GLBT people.
  • The sticker indicates that, within your office or room, homophobic and heterosexist comments and actions will not be tolerated silently, but instead will be addressed in an educational, informative, confidential and non-threatening manner.
  • The sticker does not indicate whether you are or are not GLBT; it merely states that you are a support and resource person (in other words, an ally).

Commitment

  • The length of your commitment to Safe Space is up to you.
  • As long as you want to participate, display your sticker on your door or within your office. If you decide to discontinue your participation, simply remove your sticker and inform the Safe Space Program Committee. There will be no questions asked. You may request to re-affiliate at any time.

Being an ally can be tough at times. Your genuine dedication to this program, no matter what its length, will create a positive space within our community.

Sections adapted from the University of Richmond Safe Zone Information Handbook, 2000



Safe Space is a program designed and run by concerned faculty at Concordia College.
Statements made at this site are those of the Safe Space Program.
They do not necessarily reflect official policies or positions of Concordia College.