The Bakersfield College Safe Space program was created by the BCSGA as a way for or campus to create a supportive environment for the LGBTQ community. Safe Spaces are places on our campuses where representatives have decided to publicly identify themselves as making an effort to understand and support the needs of the LGBTQ community. The Safe Space Project at BC promotes awareness of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, and Allied (LGBTQA) individuals. Workshops can provide education concerning related issues and seeks to improve the environment for sexual and gender minorities.

Safe Space Goals:

• To increase awareness of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) individuals and issues.
• To build a visible support network of LGBT allies on BC's campus.
• To improve the climate for LGBT people at BC.
• To make allies visible to and involved with LGBT students, faculty, and staff.

Campus Contact:

If you are a BC Student or a community member who needs more information regarding LGBT matters at Bakersfield College, please email Dr. Nicky Damania and he will be more than happy to assist you.

More Information:

Since homophobia and limited understanding negatively impacts LGBT individuals, we strive to make it known that the LGBT population is welcome in any environment at BC. Our campus identifies a growing network of students, faculty, staff, and community members who are willing and prepared to provide support and information to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning individuals.

The Office of Student Life is able to offer the Safe Space workshop to every department, student group, or program on campus that we can. In order to do so, we need your help in two ways.

1. Spread the word that the Safe Space program has been revised. If you have not attended the new Safe Space, sign up today!
2. Facilitate Workshops: In order to create a program that truly reaches the entire BC community, we need help facilitating the workshops. Please consider giving your time and talent to assist us in educating people about LGBT issues. If you are interested, please contact Dr. Nicky Damania by emailing studentlife@bakersfieldcollege.edu. This is an opportunity to build your skills and provide a necessary service at the same time!

FAQ

• What is LGBTQ? LGBTQ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or Questioning.
• What if I am not LGBTQ, but want to be supportive, can I participate in this program? Absolutely, you would be called an ally, which is anybody who actively tries to create a supportive environment for members of the LGBTQ community. In some places, the term ally is actually reserved for “straight people” who support the LGBTQ community. However, at Bakersfield College, we have decided to use ally in a slightly different sense. Here, an ally is anybody (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, or straight) who makes an effort to understand and support the LGBTQ community.
• Are people who don't participate in this program "anti-LGBTQ?" Of course not! Besides those who simply don’t know about the program or have yet to complete the training process, there are several reasons for not participating in the Safe Space program. One reason is that participating in the program involves placing a Safe Space placard at the entrance of a person’s workspace, and some people simply prefer not to place labels on their door. Also, everybody who works in a shared workspace must first agree to identify their area as such before the sticker can be used. However, rather than try to list reasons for not participating, we will just say that we are a diverse campus that has diverse reasons for participating or not participating in this program. In short, you don’t have to participate in this program to be an ally.