Students walk on campus by the Talley Student Union. Photo by Marc Hall

Launched in August 2015, the GLBT Advocate Program is set to begin its second semester as a continuing education and engagement program for NC State faculty and staff. The program was developed in response to student feedback about the need for more in-depth awareness among faculty and staff about the range of GLBT identities, the issues faced by GLBT students and ways to practice GLBT inclusion on campus.

In its first semester, the program gained 79 participants representing 26 departments and divisions on campus. Participants in the program sign up for one year and agree to complete one educational workshop and attend one GLBT Center event during the academic year. During the fall semester, participants were able to able to choose from five different educational workshops and eight different GLBT Center events.

The GLBT Center is currently inviting interested faculty and staff to register for the program for the spring semester. There will be five educational workshops offered this spring: “Project SAFE,” “Trans 101,” “Recognizing and Responding to Microaggressions,” “Addressing Offensive Behavior:  A How-To Guide for Interrupting Problematic Behavior and Helping Students Navigate the Reporting Process,” and “Interpersonal and Sexual Violence in the GLBT Community.” The GLBT Center’s spring events will kick off on January 27, 2015 from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. in Talley 3285 with a lecture by Dr. Ravi Perry entitled “Rise. Resist. Repeat.” Dr. Perry’s lecture will address the culture of violence against underrepresented communities that underlies the #blacklivesmatter and #translivesmatter movements.

The program is designed to be an ongoing way for faculty and staff to expand their understanding of GLBT issues and connect with the GLBT community on campus. Participants will be invited to renew their commitment each year. For more information about the program or to register for a spring semester workshop, see GLBT Advocate Program.

Renee Wells is director of the GLBT Center.