University of Central Florida Counseling Center

Q: What is an Ally?
A: In his or her most general sense, an Ally is "a person who is a member of the dominant or majority group who works to end oppression in his or her personal and professional life through support of, and as an advocate for, the oppressed population." (Washington and Evans, Becoming an Ally) ALLIES to racial, religious and ethnic minorities have been remarkably effective in promoting positive change in the dominant culture, and only recently has their instrumental position been extended to the area of sexual orientation. The past few years have witnessed the development of heterosexual Ally organizations which have attempted to make the culture of a campus or workplace more aware and accepting of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered individuals.

An Ally strives to...

be a friend
be a listener
be open-minded
have his or her own opinions
be willing to talk
commit him or herself to personal growth in spite of the discomfort it may sometimes cause.
recognize his or her personal boundaries.
recognize when to refer an individual to additional resources.
confront his or her own prejudices.
join others with a common purpose.
believe that all persons regardless of age, sex, race, gender, religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation should be treated with dignity and respect.
engage in the process of developing a culture free of homophobia and heterosexism.
recognize his or her mistakes, but not use them as an excuse for inaction.
be responsible for empowering his or her role in a community, particularly as it relates to responding to homophobia.
recognize the legal powers and privileges that heterosexuals have and which GLBT people are denied.
support the Ally program of his or her university or workplace.

As important as it is to define what an Ally is in a positive sense, it is also helpful to understand the boundaries of an Ally's role.

An Ally is NOT...

someone with ready-made answers.
necessarily a counselor, nor is he or she necessarily trained to deal with crisis situations.
expected to proceed with an interaction if levels of comfort or personal safety have been violated.

Q: What is an Advance?
A: An ALLIES Advance is a 2 1/2 hour workshop for UCF staff, faculty, and students who have an interest in becoming a member of ALLIES. The purpose of the Advance is to raise awareness of another cultural group, since the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered community is generally very misunderstood; to raise awareness of the way homophobia effects everyone; explore ways ALLIES on campus can support LGBT community and each other; and provide an opportunity for participants to become Ally.

Q: Why do you call it an “advance”?
A: A “retreat” sounds like participants take a step backwards. We hope peole will advance their understanding of GLBT issues and the needs of the local community.

Q: What happens at an Advance?
A: Advances may have anywhere from 5 to 15 participants who hold group discussions to explore their personal knowledge of heterosexual privilege and homophobia; and have an interactive Q&A with a panel of campus GLBT people. Participants also receive a packet of resources to take home and the opportunity to sign the ALLIES contract and hang placard outside their door.

Q: If I attend an Advance, do I automatically become an ALLY?
A: No, you must first choose to sign the ALLIES contract. Participants may consider their decision further and mail in a signed contract at a later date, or receive their placard at the Advance by turning in the contract immediately. Some participants choose not to become a member of ALLIES, but they still have enjoyed a learning opportunity.

Q: When are Advances offered?
A: Three advances are usually scheduled each fall and spring, varying the day of the week and time of the day to meet the needs of as many people as possible. A summer Advance may also be offered. The ALLIES web page lists Advance dates as soon as they are scheduled.

An Ally Is . . .
Visible suport
Safe zone
Someone who combats homophobia and heterosexism

An Ally Can Be . . .
An “activist”
Speaker or educator

An Ally Is Not . . .
An “expert” on issues
Counselor
Spokesperson for all

Last Updated:
January 15, 2008 5:25 PM




ALLIES Frequently Asked Questions Q: What is an Ally? A: In his or her most general sense, an Ally is "a person who is a member of the dominant or majority group who works to end oppression in his or her personal and professional life through support of, and as an advocate for, the oppressed population." (Washington and Evans, Becoming an Ally) ALLIES to racial, religious and ethnic minorities have been remarkably effective in promoting positive change in the dominant culture, and only recently has their instrumental position been extended to the area of sexual orientation. The past few years have witnessed the development of heterosexual Ally organizations which have attempted to make the culture of a campus or workplace more aware and accepting of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered individuals. An Ally strives to... be a friend be a listener be open-minded have his or her own opinions be willing to talk commit him or herself to personal growth in spite of the discomfort it may sometimes cause. recognize his or her personal boundaries. recognize when to refer an individual to additional resources. confront his or her own prejudices. join others with a common purpose. believe that all persons regardless of age, sex, race, gender, religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation should be treated with dignity and respect. engage in the process of developing a culture free of homophobia and heterosexism. recognize his or her mistakes, but not use them as an excuse for inaction. be responsible for empowering his or her role in a community, particularly as it relates to responding to homophobia. recognize the legal powers and privileges that heterosexuals have and which GLBT people are denied. support the Ally program of his or her university or workplace. As important as it is to define what an Ally is in a positive sense, it is also helpful to understand the boundaries of an Ally's role. An Ally is NOT... someone with ready-made answers. necessarily a counselor, nor is he or she necessarily trained to deal with crisis situations. expected to proceed with an interaction if levels of comfort or personal safety have been violated. Q: What is an Advance? A: An ALLIES Advance is a 2 1/2 hour workshop for UCF staff, faculty, and students who have an interest in becoming a member of ALLIES. The purpose of the Advance is to raise awareness of another cultural group, since the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered community is generally very misunderstood; to raise awareness of the way homophobia effects everyone; explore ways ALLIES on campus can support LGBT community and each other; and provide an opportunity for participants to become Ally. Q: Why do you call it an “advance”? A: A “retreat” sounds like participants take a step backwards. We hope peole will advance their understanding of GLBT issues and the needs of the local community. Q: What happens at an Advance? A: Advances may have anywhere from 5 to 15 participants who hold group discussions to explore their personal knowledge of heterosexual privilege and homophobia; and have an interactive Q&A with a panel of campus GLBT people. Participants also receive a packet of resources to take home and the opportunity to sign the ALLIES contract and hang placard outside their door. Q: If I attend an Advance, do I automatically become an ALLY? A: No, you must first choose to sign the ALLIES contract. Participants may consider their decision further and mail in a signed contract at a later date, or receive their placard at the Advance by turning in the contract immediately. Some participants choose not to become a member of ALLIES, but they still have enjoyed a learning opportunity. Q: When are Advances offered? A: Three advances are usually scheduled each fall and spring, varying the day of the week and time of the day to meet the needs of as many people as possible. A summer Advance may also be offered. The ALLIES web page lists Advance dates as soon as they are scheduled. An Ally Is . . . Visible suport Safe zone Someone who combats homophobia and heterosexism An Ally Can Be . . . An “activist” Speaker or educator An Ally Is Not . . . An “expert” on issues Counselor Spokesperson for all For more information about the ALLIES program or to RSVP for an Advances please contact: Mr. Michael Freeman, at Diversity Initiatives Office (mafreema@mail.ucf.edu) or Dr. Karen Hofmann, at the UCF Counseling Center (khofmann@mail.ucf.edu)
							Last Updated: January 15, 2008 5:25 PM