AFFIRMING COMMITTEE - 
On Sunday February 26th, 10am service
 Lisa Smith, Executive Director of UR PRIDE Centre 
will be joining us and chatting with Laura during the service.  
We invite you to stay for coffee with Lisa and hear her presentation at noon.  

I Am An Ally

Allies support the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, straight, and questioning communities. They pledge to help end discrimination and provide a safe space to each and every person in need of an ally.
Becoming an ally means one can say the following “I” statements…

• I am an ally for and with gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, and that I am gutsy and courageous.
• I know that I’ll be making a difference in the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender members of the campus community.
• I am designated as a “safe person” for someone who is gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender to talk to. This means I am committed to provide support and to maintain confidentiality.
• I am committed to people with a gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender roommate, friend, or family member who may wish to speak to someone.
• I will work to confront homophobia and heterosexism by demonstrating my support of people in various ways. This may include speaking up when a homophobic joke is told, planning awareness activities, or just being there.
• Because I am an ally I become aware of ,accepting and respectful of all other groups that I interact with on the basis of their race, culture, gender, social status, or physical and mental abilities.

Benefits

• I open myself up to an additional 10% of the world.
• I have the opportunity to interact with, learn from, teach, and have an impact on a people  with which I may not otherwise interact.
• I become less locked into sex role stereotypes.
• I may be an important reason that my friend, classmate, roommate, teammate, brother, sister, professor, mother, or father finally decides that life is worthwhile. “Safe zones” help gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people develop stronger self-esteem and pride in who they are.
• I will make a difference in my community and in the lives of members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender communities.
• I will make the world a better place for everyone. Oppression is a negative force, and as long as it exists, everyone is impacted.