VCU Safe Zone

Safe Zone

What it means to be a Safe Zone participant

The purpose of Safe Zone is to reduce homophobia and heterosexism on the VCU campus, thereby to make our campus a safer and freer environment for all members of our community regardless of sexual orientation.

Participants

  • Attend a Safe Zone Workshop, which examines attitudes and beliefs, raises awareness, builds skills, and offers resources
  • After attending workshop, display Safe Zone sticker
  • Are open to questions from and about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and their issues
  • Support policies that bring equity to otherwise inequitable situations and give open support for LGBT issues
  • Encourage others to become part of Safe Zone

The Purpose of the Safe Zone Sticker

VCU Safe Zone Sticker
  • The sticker helps to convey a message that you are supportive, trustworthy and sensitive to the needs and concerns of LGBT 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 and non-threatening manner
  • The sticker does not indicate whether you are or are not LGBT; it merely states that you are a support and resource person (in other words, an ally)

What is a Safe Zone Workshop?

Faculty Staff Safe Zone Registration

Small groups of interested VCU faculty and staff from both Academic and MCV campuses meet to:

  • Raise awareness of LGBT issues and their importance to everyone
  • Participate in interactive excercises
  • Build skills for deling with situations and questions that arise at VCU
  • Develop resources (informal, networking)
  • Distribute VCU Safe Zone stickers

Workshops are co-led by experienced group facilitators. They are offered on both campuses and can be arranged for special locations and/or times upon request.

Safe Zone Participation

LGBT Subcommittee on Facebook

Joining campuses across the country with similar programs, many departments and units have participated in the Safe Zone program here at VCU. We are particularly grateful for the support of our partners:

  • Office of Multicultural Student Affairs (OMSA)
  • School of Social Work who initiated the Safe Zone Program

Scheduling an Initial Appointment

Must come in person to either location:

Monroe Park Campus
University Student Commons, Room 238
907 Floyd Ave.
(804) 828-6200
Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

MCV Campus
Grant House, B011
1008 East Clay St.
(804) 828-3964
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Monday: 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

After Hours Emergency
Please call VCU Police dispatcher:
(804) 828-1234 and ask to speak to a therapist.