Ally program provides support
for gay community
By Emily Baldauf
Senior
Writer
Coming out to friends and family is perhaps the
most frightening time for students who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or
transgender.
A graduate student, who wished not to be identified,
knows the feelings that come with this time of secrecy and stress.
"I thought, oh my God, I am the only person
who has this problem," he said.
At that time, his resources were limited and he
felt alone as he hid his true self from many of the people he cared
about. Although he managed to slowly come out to family and friends
over the last several years, he wished there had been someone he could
have talked to.
Now he has become someone to talk to. He is one
of the many allies that make up the Purdue Ally Association. The student-run
association trains students to become supportive links to lesbian, gay,
bisexual or transgender students in need.
"It would have been better if I knew I could
come out safely," the Ally said. "I wish someone would have
been there to guide me through my coming out process."
The association is made up of students, faculty
and staff, both gay and straight, who have gone through training to
address the issues the gay community faces.
These counselors are then linked with people in
the gay community who may need someone to talk with about what they
are going through.
B.J. Welsh, a senior in the School of Consumer
and Family Sciences, found out about the Association through her job
as a residence hall counselor. Although she is straight, she has always
been empathetic with the plight of her gay friends that have struggled
to come out.
"I don’t like to see people suffering,"
she said. "I see it and I feel I need to be there and support someone.
I feel like if I don’t, I am doing something wrong."
After completing her training last spring, she
became an Ally and although she has not had the opportunity to help
anyone through the association yet, she has used her knowledge in interactions
with her work and acquaintances.
Assistant Dean of Students Robert Mate has gone
through the Ally training twice and believes it is a step towards creating
a better environment for gay students on campus.
"It seems that in our society we fear what
we don’t know," Mate said. "I think the association really
helps incorporate the heterosexual world with the gay, lesbian, bisexual
and transgender world."
Sometimes, gay students find it difficult to live
on campuses where the majority of the students are straight.
"Even though it is getting better, I still
think homophobia is still pretty prevalent on this campus," Ally
advisor Barry Schreier said.
According to the Office of Affirmative Action,
at least two students made informal complaints to the University abut
being discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation.
Although that number may seem small, there are many instances that go
unreported.
Ally members and University officials hope the
program will create a better environment for all students.
Diana Prieto, the assistant dean for conflict resolution
at the Office of Affirmative Action, said, "I definitely think
that programs like Ally do assist in terms of raising awareness and
creating a dialogue."
"It’s going to be the straight people
that change the world views of the GLBT issues," Mate said.
The one-day training sessions will be held on Sept.
30, October 13, October 20 and November 30. The cost is $7 for students
and $15 for faculty or staff. For more information how to sign up for
the sessions visit www.purdue.edu/ally/.
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