Outreach & Education

Students learning about gender and sexuality in class

Students learning about "Gender, Race & Inequality"

The LGBT Center provides a safe space and atmosphere for individuals. Peer Discussion Groups are held throughout the month to accommodate varied schedules. The LGBT Center is committed to the entire well-being of LGBT individuals in the Flint area. We distribute free condoms, dental dams, lubrication, gloves and safer-sex information. Resources are also available for HIV/AIDS support and education. Call the Center or stop by for more information.

PFLAG

Parents and Friends of Lesbians And Gays is a national organization supporting those close to LGBT individuals. Discussion topics include dealing with a child's or friends sexuality, dealing with parental fears, and working with children and friends for better understanding. LGBT individuals are also invited to share their stories and gain support from the community. The organization has several community chapters, including one in Genesee County. Meetings are held every second Sunday of the month from 3:00-4:00 at the Unitarian Universalist Church. Call for more information.

Health and HIV Information

Though HIV, the virus which is responsible for AIDS is not specific to the LGBT community, we must recognize the fact that any type of sexual activity where the exchange of fluids can occur is risky. Since there is not yet a cure for HIV/AIDS, the LGBT Center will assume an active role in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS and in assisting those who have tested positive for the disease. A list of resources follows, to help you learn more on HIV prevention and services.

HIV Testing and Referrals

The Urban Health and Wellness Center (UHWC), located in room 1153 of the William S. White Building, offers HIV testing. For more information, or to set up an appointment, please call (810) 424-5269. Referrals to local testing centers are also available. These centers provide free HIV testing and counseling.

Books, Periodicals & Films

The LGBT Center holds a large collection of fiction and nonfiction titles on many subjects of interest to LGBT individuals, including history, politics, religion, the process of coming out, sexuality and families. We also have a large selection of periodicals and newsletters from many Michigan organizations. We even have an extensive video library of LGBT films on DVD. All resources are free to use and can be checked out to use at home. Stop in at 365 UCEN to find out more.

In-Class Discussions & Panels

What is it like to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender? Why not help answer this question for students or staff by inviting a panel to speak to your class, student organization, department or office?

Panelists are trained to speak about LGBT-related issues, to share their personal stories and to answer questions about LGBT lifestyles. Panels are an informative and interactive way to educate people while dispelling stereotypes.

Instructors are invited to tailor the LGBT visit to their own needs. They can choose from several successful presentation styles, or they can use Center staff in their own curriculum. What follows are a few suggestions from successful presentations in other classroom. If you have another suggestion for how these presentations might better serve students, please contact the program manager at dept.lgbt-center@umflint.edu.

Crossing the Line

The "Crossing the Line" exercise is an informal way to discuss discrimination with students who may not know what it is like to be discriminated against. A panelist asks students to form one line in the middle of the classroom, and proceeds to call out different communities that can be discriminated against in this country. Students are asked to "cross the line," or step out of line, if they are a member of that community or have been called a member of that community by another individual.

The purpose of the "Crossing the Line" exercise is to help students and staff realize that we are all members of a community and that we must all be active participants against discrimination.

Article Discussion

Many instructors are already discussing LGBT issues in their sociology or first-year composition courses. If you would like a suggested article or film to use as a basis for such a discussion, we have several resources available that examine general and specific LGBT issues. In addition, LGBT Center staff and volunteers can help guide the discussion you have with your students, answering specific questions students have and discussing the text or film openly with them.

Co-Sponsored Panels

For specific issues, instructors may wish to bring two or more resources together. The LGBT Center has connections to several other offices both in the University of Michigan system and throughout the greater Flint area, including the Women's Educational Center, Wellness HIV/AIDS Services, and Your Center.

Question & Answer

Regardless of what an instructor wishes for the form of his/her LGBT visit, most class visits include some form of a question and answer session, in which students ask the LGBT Center staff and volunteers about LGBT issues and experiences. Questions can range from "What is it like to be Gay?" to "Are LGBT individuals trying to get 'special rights'?" All questions are answered openly and honestly, though panelists reserve the right not to answer any questions they deem inappropriate.

University of Michigan - Flint