Download File - Northwestern Greek Allies

Northwestern Greek Allies
Ally Development in
Fraternities and Sororities
WELCOME
• Introductions
• Northwestern Greek Allies, founded 2009
– Design and implement a longstanding organization
that promotes educational programming and
diversity awareness in regards to LGBT and
questioning students and their allies.
– Education, Outreach and Advocacy
WHAT DO WE HEAR ABOUT …
• About students in fraternities or sororities?
• About lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
students?
• About lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
students in fraternities and sororities?
HIDDEN POPULATION
• Who knows someone who is LGBT?
• How do we know that someone is LGBT?
• If 10% of the population is LGBT then…
– Total Students: 7800
• 780 LGBT undergrads
– Fraternities and Sororities: 2604
• 260 LGBT members (potential – Is this really reflective?)
– MGC: 52
• 5 LGBT Members
LAMBDA 10 NATIONAL LGBT FRATERNITY
AND SORORITY RESEARCH
RESEARCH
• Qualitative study of experiences of LGBT
peoples in fraternities and sororities from
1960 to 2007
• Case (1996) found that LGB students joined
fraternities and sororities for reasons similar
to those of heterosexual students: friendship,
social activities, and a sense of belonging.
RESEARCH
• Results found that the heterocentric nature of
Greek social activities, homophobic attitudes,
and the perceived need to hide their sexual
orientation detracted from the experience of
LGBT members.
• LGBT members often voice no opposition to
homophobic behavior for fear that it might
reveal their identity.
WHAT TO DO
IF YOUR FRIEND IS LGBT
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Do not assume sexual orientation
Do not assume LGBT friends find you attractive
Be honest about your feelings
Your friend has not changed
Respect confidentiality
Know your resources
Hold all friends to equal standards
WAYS TO BE A GOOD ALLY
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Don’t assume everyone is heterosexual
DO NOT EVER out someone – just because you might
know, don’t assume that others do or should
Avoid anti-LGBT jokes and conversations
Actively pursue a process of self-education - read and
ask questions
Interrupt prejudice and take action against oppression,
even when people from the target group are not
present
Confront issues in private with individuals – not groups
Stand up to offensive language – “That’s so gay”
Thank You!
• Questions?
• For more information on Northwestern Greek
Allies, contact the Office of Fraternity and
Sorority Life.
Information in this PowerPoint has been used from the Lambda 10 Project,
ThinkB4YouSpeak.com, University of Michigan Spectrum Center, and the
Northwestern University LGBT Resource Center.