Presented by CITT/ICTS

Course Description: 

Safer Spaces is a Professional Development Workshop to increase inclusion for LGBTQ+ communities. Using both structured content and facilitated open dialog, participants will explore language, pronouns, history, human rights, lived experiences of LGBTQIAP+ people, overcoming barriers, and resources. Participants will be able to engage in group activities, games, and open discussions for a shared learning experience.

The Presenters:

Dale Boyle

As the Manager of the Safer Spaces Program, Dale Boyle works with organizations to provide assessments, professional development workshops, and policy consultations to create more inclusive environments for LGBTQ clients and colleagues. The program has worked with over 50 organizations delivering hundreds of workshops to thousands of service providers.

Ali Tuckey

Ali Tuckey, Family and Youth Programs Coordinator, facilitates peer support groups for LGBTQ youth and open dialog workshops for service providers. Their work allows organizations to become more accessible to queer and trans people through honest discussions about societal stigma of the queer and trans communities.

Objectives

Create Awareness:

• Reflecting on our experience with sex, gender, expression, and orientation
• Recognize the ways LGBTQ people are disproportionately affected in our communities
• Acknowledge barriers, real or perceived, between organizations and LGBTQ communities

Make your Job Easier:

• Experience a shift in perspective when working with LGBTQ communities
• Effective language and reducing barriers
• Goal: Creating Safer Spaces for our LGBTQ communities

Learning Environment

• There is a lot to learn – we won’t have time to cover everything
• The information may be overwhelming or challenging, this is okay
• Assume good intent
• Willingness to engage and learn
• Private information learned or shared about clients, colleagues, and participants are to kept confidential
• Some of the material is difficult especially for those with experiences related to the training – take care of yourself the best you can

Detailed Agenda

Full day workshop would be a maximum of 7 hours of delivery, suggested between the hours of 9am – 4pm, including 45-60 minute lunch break, as well as two 10-15 minute breaks in the morning and afternoon.  

1. Why LGBTQ Inclusion Maters
   1. Discussion on how LGBTQ topics connect to the work in the industry of theater and why it matters/is relevant
   2. Includes Statistics/experiences impacting LGBTQ communities
2. Concepts, Language & Pronouns
   1. Gender Identity vs Sexual Orientation
   2. Self-Reflection Activity: Spectrum Map
   3. Terminology – LGBTIQQ2SAP, Non-Binary, Self-Identification
   4. Pronouns – Customer service, group interaction, neutral language
   5. Applying newly used terminology and language in particle and related daily work or interactions
3. History, Human Rights, and Statistics
   1. Understanding the impact of history in order to respect the experiences of those in the LGBTQ communities
   2. Human Rights protections and how this plays out in the workplace and social contexts
   3. Statistics/Experiences – reflection on how statistics impacts the work and relationship with LGBTQ communities
4. Trans Experiences & Overcoming Organizational Barriers
   1. Discussion and deeper dive into understanding various trans experiences
   2. Exploring case studies on relevant trans experiences and how we may create more inclusive spaces
   3. Acknowledging & overcoming organizational barriers that currently exist, while identifying practical ways to overcoming these barriers moving forward
5. Review & Resources
   1. Discussion on recapturing lessons learned, next steps, and resources that exist