West Virginia University’s Safe Zone program will provide training on sexual orientation and gender identity for interested members of the WVU community as a part of WVU’s Diversity Week.

The training will be on Monday, Oct. 26 in the Bluestone Room of the Mountainlair at 5:30 p.m. with health educators Deb Beazley and Kristen Kovaleski. Following training, members of Safe Zone help provide a supportive atmosphere at WVU for those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning their sexuality (LGBTQ).

Unlike many other minority groups, the invisibility of sexual orientation sometimes makes it difficult for WVU students, faculty and staff who are LGBTQ to identify those they can safely turn to for support, advocacy and information. Safe Zone members are students, faculty and staff who consider themselves to be approachable and knowledgeable about LGBTQ issues.

Safe Zone members are a diverse representation of the WVU population, including LGBTQ and heterosexual members. When trained, members will display their support and availability by posting the Safe Zone symbol, an upside down pink triangle.

Those individuals who are interested in learning more about the role of Safe Zone members are invited to attend the training session. The Safe Zone program is co-sponsored by the WVU Council on Sexual Orientation, the President’s Office for Social Justice and WELL WVU’s Carruth Center for Psychological and Psychiatric Services.

Beazley, a staff counselor/social worker at the Carruth Center is coordinator of the program. For further information, she can be contacted at dbeazley@hsc.wvu.edu 293-1377 or at the Carruth Center at 293-4431.

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CONTACT: Deborah Beazley, WELL WVU
304-293-1377, dbeazley@hsc.wvu.edu