Posted: November 19, 2024
On November 4th, ESM hosted the Safer People, Safer Places workshop with 22 faculty, staff, and students in attendance. The workshop provided participants with the tools and language needed to support LGBTQ+ community members and foster a more inclusive environment. The event was led by graduate student Mason Shane, the ESM Graduate Student Organization, the ESM IDEA Committee, and Penn State Student Affairs.
This workshop coincided with Transgender Awareness Week, culminating in the International Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20th, which honors transgender individuals who have lost their lives due to violence.
In 2025 the IDEA Committee will look to offer the follow-up workshop, Transgender and Gender Inclusion 101. Faculty who complete both workshops would be eligible to join the Rainbow Ag Network.
If you are interested in being a trans ally, consider this resources by the British Ecological Society - Five steps towards being a trans ally: https://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/five-steps-towards-being-a-trans-ally/. If you would like to reported bias incidents that target Penn State students you can Make an Anonymous Hotline Report - https://universityethics.psu.edu/reporting-at-penn-state
Through these initiatives, the Department of ESM continues its commitment to creating a supportive and inclusive environment for all LGBTQ+ individuals.
