Welcome Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, Questioning or Queer Friends and Allies!

We are so happy to be at a point in the history of UCF to be able to offer you a resource website that may help you navigate your important educational journey.  We hope this site meets your needs as a GLBTQ student at UCF. Seven years ago when Karen started at UCF, the only visible service or organization that was serving the needs of the UCF GLBT community was the Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual Student Union (GLBSU) student organization, now known as EQUAL.  There was nothing that the university was offering to meet the needs of GLBT students, or to say it was affirming to be gay at UCF.  Seeing this injustice, several of us from the Counseling Center, the Office of Diversity Initiatives, and other university departments set out to at least start a GLBT Allies Program here at UCF.  Although it was nowhere near what was really needed, at least it was something that could be done. We hoped the Allies Program could at least begin to change the UCF climate, and ensure GLBT students, faculty and staff could have a visible sign of who was GLBT affirming and not afraid to say so. Hopefully, it made things feel a little safer at UCF knowing others were willing to say I am GLBT friendly and affirming. 

Seven years and many Allies Advances/presentations later, we have managed to train over 700 students, faculty and staff at UCF.  We have managed to keep a consistent list-serve of around 230 people educated on UCF, local and national issues that are affecting GLBT people. We created a website with helpful links and information for the UCF community and have rallied our Allied network to support other GLBT events on and off campus. Yes, we are very proud of what we have done so far, but we still have so much to do.  Our goal has always been to create a resource center for GLBT and Allied friends at UCF.  There may be those who ask, “Why do we need this special center? Isn’t that special treatment for some?”  All we have to say to that is, if we need to explain why a center is needed, then  you need to attend an Allies advance, or read more about the covert and sometimes blatant discrimination and bigotry that still goes on toward GLBT people,  whom are still treated as second class citizens and who are denied basic human rights.  To not account for the heterosexism and homophobia and internalized homophobia that exist everywhere, keeps a blind eye to the needs of an oppressed group. 

We know that college can be an exciting and fun experience in general, but it can be filled with many stressful encounters.  An extra stressor for many of our Gay, Lesbian, Trans-, and Bi-sexual students is the stressor of the coming out process.  Many non-gay students do not understand the fear and anxiety that comes with having to come out as gay to others over and over again.  The privilege of not having to come out; not having to defend your sexual identity; or not having to defend who you love is something that heterosexuals take for granted.  The fear of coming out is only one of many other experiences that justify a resource center for GLBT students. 

Although we do not have a concrete location as of yet, we are working hard to make that a reality.  Until that time, we want to offer you all the information we can to help you become a successful student at UCF. This virtual resource center is a work in progress and has only come to fruition by the labor of love of several people who have volunteered their time.  We encourage you to give us feedback and suggestions on how we can make this site better, to better serve your needs as a GLBTQ student.  Our hope is that these resources and programs, as well as our wonderful student, faculty and staff Allies, and GLBT Mentors help make your experience at UCF less stressful and more safe, and that you actually feel proud of who you are and what you are becoming.  Our hope is that this resource center helps you navigate some off the confusing and difficult currents that college life brings.  Good Luck on your continued journey! 

 

Michael Freeman                                          Karen Hofmann, Ph.D.
Co-Chair of the Allies Program                    Founder and co-Chair of the Allies Program
Trainer                                                           Psychologist and Associate Director
Office of Diversity Initiatives                        UCF Counseling Center