Safe Zone JMU was proposed in the 1996-97 academic year and became operational the following year. It was initially funded by grants from the Commission on Community ($500) and the Shenandoah Valley Gay and Lesbian Alliance ($250). Safe Zone offers:
• Individuals interested in learning more about the Safe Zone program attend a workshop - 2 or 3 are offered every semester. [The session is required if one wishes to participate in the program.]
• Individuals sign a "contract" for confidentiality purposes when they decide to become a participant in Safe Zone and they're given a Safe Zone sticker to place at their work station or on their door.
• Currently there are over 300 participants consisting of faculty, staff, and students.
• Three Coordinators in conjunction with a Harmony student representative coordinate and supervise the training sessions, events, and the listserv.
• Additional resources, information, updates, and requests are available on the Safe Zone website and are distributed on the closed Safe Zone listserv maintained by one of the coordinators.
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Members of the JMU community who participate in the Safe Zone Program:
- Believe that our campus is enriched by the diversity of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people.
- Are aware of the presence of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex students and colleagues and are willing to engage them in genuine dialogue and interaction.
- Are willing to discuss issues impacting gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people's lives in a nonjudgmental manner.
- Are willing to assist individuals in accessing support and information resources on campus and in the community.
- Pledge to maintain confidentiality.
- Comfortably use inclusive language, avoiding stereotyping, and do not assume gender binaries or heterosexuality.
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