Allies head-off campus homophobia

NSW universities are moving to make campuses safer for gays and lesbians with diversity training and a visible network of gay-friendly staff.

The universities of Sydney, Newcastle and Western Sydney will join New England, which has been running the Ally program for more than a year.

Widespread on campuses in America, Western Australia and Queensland, the Ally program encourages university staff to challenge homophobic comments and make their names available on a public list of gay and lesbian allies.

Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby spokesman Blake Stephens said it was pushing for the creation of Ally networks on campuses because it filled a gap in current NSW equal opportunity laws that don’t include gays and lesbians.

UNE’s diversity officer Lyn Tucket said staff looked at the program, not because of any legislative gap, but because of the very real concerns of students at her Armidale campus who had reported incidents of homophobia.

“Even small things like a defaced poster for a queer event can create an atmosphere of isolation and fear,” Tucket said.

“We believe that having rainbow door signs to indicate an Ally staff member and associated posters around the place does made a difference, that people feel more comfortable.”

Tucket said the program was a success, as indicated by the positive feedback from students and 43 people signing up as allies after recent training.

“Even though some were a little concerned about a backlash, that hasn’t happened to date. I really hope the metropolitan universities take it up,” she said.

Stephens said UTS and the University of NSW were considering the program, and that the Lobby would pursue the remaining universities.