Local News: Aggie Allies Support GLBT Community at Texas A&M

Sphere: Related Content Aggie Allies Offer Nonjudgmental Listening Ear and Open Door
Students, Faculty and Staff Provide Equality Support
By: Melissa Appel

From the Texas A&M University Battalion

With the goal of uniting the Aggie family, Aggie Allies provide an open door and a listening ear to students who wish to speak about gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender issues.

"Allies is a safe-zone program," said Brad Dressler, chairman of Aggie Allies Executive Committee. "We're dedicated to providing visible support for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community of Texas A&M and beyond."

Allies can be recognized by the "Aggie Ally" placard outside of their office or dorm room. Students can also search for an Ally by visiting the Aggie Allies Web site at allies.tamu.edu.

"The majority of feedback we get from the GLBT community is that seeing the Aggie Allies placards all over campus and knowing that a support network exists helps to put their minds at ease," Dressler said. "Students often tell us that they feel comforted knowing that when they see an Aggie Ally placard, they can let their guard down and not have to worry about prejudice or being judged by that individual. The placard signifies that person is an Aggie Ally and will be supportive."

"I wanted to know how I could be a better advisor and a better resource for my students," said Rebecca Taylor, an advisor in Student Activities and member of the Aggie Allies Executive Committee.

"I became an Ally because I believe that there needs to be visible support for the GLBT community on this campus," Associate Director of Student Life Studies Darby Roberts said. She serves on the Aggie Allies Executive Committee. "When I started, which was shortly after it began, it was particularly important to provide that support because there wasn't really that effort across campus."

By becoming an Aggie Ally, individuals are not signing up to be activists or counselors. Instead, the primary focus of an Ally is simply to show acceptance to those with whom they speak.

"You are committing to be someone who is willing to provide a safe space," Taylor said. "We ask that our Allies are role models about being open and accepting and someone who challenges homophobia when appropriate."

Aggie Allies is an organization started in 1993 through the Department of Student Life and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Resource Center. The group consists of faculty, staff and students who have volunteered time and services to support Aggies in the GLBT community.

Aggie Allies has 768 members, which represent a mix of faculty, staff and students. More than half of the Allies identify themselves as heterosexual.

People interested in becoming Allies are first asked to attend an Advance, the three-hour workshop covers topics such as terminology, situations members of the GLBT community encounter, coming out and discrimination.

"The idea is that you're advancing your knowledge about the GLBT community," Dressler said. "I've yet to know anyone who has gone through it that hasn't learned quite a few things."

Allies express a variety of personal reasons for becoming a member, all with the goal of serving others.

With almost 800 members, Aggie Allies are a strong network of individuals with little turnover beyond graduation and job changes. Nonetheless, Allies are always looking for more individuals to get involved.

"We're really doing a big push on outreach," Taylor said. "We're trying to assess our strongest population of Allies and where we can do more outreach-whether in certain departments or places on campus."

In all of their actions, the primary purpose of uniting Aggies remains the goal of all Allies.

"We're basically saying if you need someone to talk to, we're here," Dressler said. "Aggie Allies is about being nonjudgmental and supportive."

In recognition of the actions of Allies and in an effort to increase community awareness, the GLBT Resource Center and Aggie Allies are hosting Ally Appreciation Days this week. Thursday there will be a GLBT Aggies Resource Fair from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in Koldus Plaza. Sixteen GLBT-friendly organizations will be showing the variety of resources and support available in the A&M and Bryan-College Station community. Organizations include churches, on-campus organizations and the Brazos Valley Community Health Center, which will be offering free, confidential HIV testing.

Allies will gather for the Allies Across Campus Meet and Greet from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday. Everyone is invited to attend the event, where Allies will provide a presentation, recognize a few specific Allies, and discuss future plans and events. Light refreshments will be provided.

Published on Wednesday, October 14, 2009