Positive Space Ally Program at Fanshawe College

We offer sensitivity training to the RA’s (Residence Assistants) as they are often the first contact for many students who live on campus. There is also importance in providing Fanshawe College staff members with tools to cope and properly support any LGBTQ+ students who may come to them for guidance. When requested, members of the Positive Space Ally team offer workshops to any group, staff or student, who would like to learn more about supporting our LGBTQ+ students.

Spectrum Fanshawe is an LGBTQ+ centred student group inclusive of both community members and allies. They are a Fanshawe College student club dedicated to developing LGBTQ+ visibility, appreciation and safety within our community. They have a Facebook page called Spectrum Fanshawe if people would like to join and see what events they are hosting. Their email is spectrumfanshawe@gmail.com

An ally must be willing to question his or her gender and learn about LGBTQ+ topics.  They must be a strong advocate and stand up for the LGBTQ+ community when needed. You will have to learn to question your own assumptions and be open to more education.

An ally:

• works to understand the needs of LGBTQ+ community,
• acknowledges how patterns of oppression have operated in his or her life,
• values social justice and equality, for everyone,
• promotes a sense of community which represents and includes LGBTQ+,
• refuses to ignore or accept discrimination, ignorance and homophobia.

I am a “Mental Health First Aid trainer” who teaches interested faculty and staff about basic mental health first aid related to our student population, including information about the higher rates of self harm and suicide in the LGBTQ+ community. Our Positive Space Ally team members encourage faculty to incorporate a LGBTQ+ perspective in the topics they teach. There is also more visibility about LGBTQ+ culture on campus, like posters, the flag that is raised, and more services available to offer support for our students. At the Wellness Center there is a gender neutral washroom and seeing more of them on campus in the future would be helpful in promoting an inclusive culture.

Candice believes that Fanshawe is continuing to become a more inclusive place for LGBTQ+ students. She works with a small group of dedicated volunteers who work to ensure that LGBTQ+ students feel accepted and supported. Their ultimate goal is to make sure that the rights of ALL students are respected.

Services offered:

• Coming Out Over Coffee. This group is run the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at the Family Services Thames Valley, 125 Woodward Ave. London, ON.  Phone:  519-433-0183 or drop-in.  Group is open to people who are 19+ and identify as LGBTQ2+.  For more info check out the FSTV website.
  

• London Trans Coffee Social Club. This group is runs the first Monday of each month, 7 pm at Coffee Culture (Dundas Street and Wellington Street, London location). This group is composed of the transgender community, it’s supporters and allies to foster equality and respect for all people who attend meetings.