Welcome to GVSU's Allies & Advocates Program
This website has been created to provide our resource manual to all Allies & Advocates members in a more accessible and up-to-date format. The information in the manual provides the basis for the Allies & Advocates training sessions. We encourage each of you to take time to thoroughly look at our site and familiarize yourself with the information. This website is designed to help you in accurately responding to the needs of students who seek information and your support. While the website may serve as an excellent starting point, it represents only a small amount of essential information available on gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender issues.
Mission Statement
Allies & Advocates exist to offer support and resources in a safe environment for members of the GVSU community concerned with issues of sexual orientation.
Purpose
Allies & Advocates' goal is to develop and maintain a network of informed faculty and staff who are willing to be visibly supportive of students who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender (GLBT), and who will work to foster a campus climate in which all students, regardless of sexual orientation or identity, may feel safe, supported, respected, and affirmed.
Allies & Advocates provides training and support services to gay-affirmative faculty and staff members who will, in turn, provide support and provide resources for GLBT students at GVSU. "Neutrality" is not enough for the optimal growth of our students as it leads to invisibility. "Tolerance" carries with it an implicit disapproval, a premise that something tolerated is less than perfect. Instead, a positive and affirming environment is necessary for students to develop healthy self-esteems and to maximize their learning experience at Grand Valley State University.
The Allies & Advocates Sign
The pink triangle is a symbol of pride used within the GLBT community and has been adopted by the Allies & Advocates program. Heterosexual allies need visual representation to distinguish themselves as well; therefore, the inclusion of the words "Allies & Advocates."
The Allies & Advocates symbol is a message to GLBT students and colleagues that you are knowledgeable, supportive, respectful, and trustworthy. Students will know they can come to you fo help, advice, or just to talk with someone who is affirming of their sexual orientation. The symbol indicates that you will not tolerate homophobic and heterosexist comments and actions, but will address these in an educational and informing manner, combating ignorance, misinformation, and prejudice with education, accurate information, and understanding. Colleagues and students have a right to their opinion; however, if someone is stating myths or misinformation about GLBT individuals, Allies & Advocates members will provide them with accurate information in a respectful manner.
At the end of your Allies & Advocates training session, you will be invited to sign up to become an official member of Allies & Advocates. You will then be given a sign to post on your office door or someplace where it is visible to students who may be seeking information and/or support. The Allies & Advocates sign should be taped to your office door, within your workspace, on your living center door, or other public or semi-public place where others can see it, especially students.
Source: Adapted from the Safe On Campus resource manual - Western Michigan University
Current Allies & Advocates Coordinators
| Gary Van Harn | Chair, Assistant to the Director of Padnos International Center |
| Milt Ford | Co-Chair, Coordinator of GLBT Resources, Professor of Liberal Studies |
| MJ Thiel | Lead Trainer, Licensed Psychologist, Counseling & Career Dev. Center |
| Diana Pace | Associate Dean of Students |
