Safe Zone Training Sponsored by SeneGAD

1. Safe Zone TrainingSponsored by SeneGAD

2. Please take a few minutes to fill out your questionnaire

3. Agenda Section 1 – General Information Part A- Introduction of Session and Goals Part B- Vocabulary Game Part C- Current Gay Rights/Dispelling Myths Section 2 – Coming Out Part A- What is “Coming Out”? Part B- Stages of Coming Out Part C- Coming Out in PC Senegal Part D- Scenarios Section 3 – Responding Part A- Definition of an Ally Part B- Anti-Gay Behavior and Beliefs Part C- Expectations Part D- Role-Play Section 4 – Conclusion

4. Section 1: General Information Part A- Introduction of Session and Goals Part B- Vocabulary Game Part C- Current Gay Rights/Dispelling Beliefs

5. Part A: Introduction and goals

6. To increase staff’s comfort with and awareness of homosexuality • To teach staff how to support PCVs who come to them with sexual identity issues • To make the Peace Corps Senegal a place where all volunteers can feel safe and supported 3 main goals of the Safe Zone:

7. Issues faced by PCTs and PCVs What are some of the difficulties that Peace Corps trainees and volunteers face when adjusting to life in Senegal?

8. Issues faced by gay/homosexual volunteers Poorly Performing PCV Isolation Depression Fear of being “found out” Fear of physical harm Sexual loneliness and risk taking Loneliness from larger LGBTQ community Family problems Lack of trust with others (i.e. staff)

9. Peace Corps Senegal Handbook states: “Volunteers should not disclose their sexual orientation to their host family members, particularly early in service. Such a confession may be a source of danger or discomfort. There is no tolerance for public displays of gay or lesbian affection in Senegal and homosexual acts remain illegal here. Homosexuality is not accepted in Senegal, neither in the culture nor in law, even between consenting adults. Volunteers who may be accused of homosexuality risk physical threats or harassment that may reach a point that the Volunteer may have to leave the country because of safety concerns.”

10. Part B:Vocabulary Game

12. Part C:Current Gay Rights/Dispelling Myths

13. Current Gay Rights United States Civil Rights - Sexual orientation is not a part of the Federal anti-discrimination  laws Hate Crimes -  Sexual orientation and gender identity is protected under a Federal Hate Crimes law Same-Sex Couples - Six states and the District of Columbia have legalized homosexual marriage, others may not recognize it at all or to a lesser degree Criminal Law - Homosexual relations between consenting adults in private is not a crime Armed Forces - "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" recently repealed

14. Situation in Senegal Homosexual acts are illegal in Senegal and punishable by jail time (maximum of 5 years) • 96% of the population said homosexuality should be rejected by society in a 2007 survey • 5 men arrested in 2008 during "gay marriage" controversy.  Photos printed by Icone magazine • 9 men arrested, 5 of which received 8 years in prison in 2009

15. Worldwide  • 5 countries, as wells as parts of Nigeria and Somalia enforce a death penalty for homosexual acts • 76 countries persecute homosexual acts • 58 countries have laws protecting LGBTQ individuals from various levels of discrimination • 32 countries provide civil unions or marriage opportunities to same-sex couples

17. Dispelling Beliefs • Homosexuality is not a mental or physical disorder • Conversion therapies have negative effects • Homosexuality is not contagious or passed from person to person • LGBTQ people exist in every country, culture, and population

18. What do you think causes homosexuality?

19. We’re Complicated • We have thoughts • This tastes bad • He is handsome • She is pretty • We have behaviors • Sleeping • Walking • Sex • We have drives • I’m hungry • I’m sleepy • I want to have sex • We have emotions • I’m angry • I’m sad • I’m happy

20. Why We’re Complicated • We have different environments • Food • Parents • Landscape • School • Language • We have different genes • Tongue rolling • Earlobes • Eye color

21. Don’t Oversimplify • The effects of the environment can be permanent • Number of limbs • Language • Women with XY chromosomes • The effects of genes can be changed • Hair color • Number of fingers • Skin color

22. Who is the victim?

23. Section 2: Coming Out Part A- What is “Coming Out”? Part B- Stages of Coming Out Part C- Coming Out in PC Senegal Part D- Peace Corps Voices

24. Part A: What is “Coming Out”? There are two parts to this process: coming out to oneself and coming out to others. Some gays and lesbians come out in "gentle" ways, admitting they are gay if asked but not volunteering it. Others do it in "loud" ways, proclaiming their sexuality to everyone. Keep in mind that “outing” and “coming out” are two very different things.

25. To Come Out or Not Come Out… (at home) There is no rubric, guideline, or one-size-fits-all process Everyone is an individual, and everyone has different reasons for the choices they make An individual may come out to different people or groups at different periods of time

26. Part B: Stages of Coming Out and Difficulties Process Coming out to oneself Coming out to friends and family Being completely "out of the closet"

27. Difficulties Associated with Coming Out to Oneself • Feelings of guilt, shame, or denial • Confusion • Fear of what other may think, being rejected • Feelings of isolation or frustration • Confliction with religious views

28. Difficulties Associated with Coming Out to Others • Fear of rejection (if under 18, being sent away from home) • Losing loved ones • How friendships/relationships may change • Fear of losing a job, being ostracized at work, church, or in the community • Possibility of hostility or violence from others (bullying, harassment)

29. Importance of Coming Out • Sense of relief • Higher level of trust and honesty • Feelings of pride • Becoming part of a new community • Ability to fully express oneself • Possibility of finding a significant other, being open about relationships

30. Regardless of how open a PCV is about his or her sexual orientation, he or she must always be “in the closet” at site. Part C: Coming Out in PC Senegal

31. How do you think this affects the productivity and happiness of the volunteer?

32. What are some reasons why LGBTQ volunteers might come out to staff?

33. What are some reasons why LGBTQ volunteers might NOT come out to staff?

34. Part D: Peace Corps Voices These are the stories of PCVs who have experienced adversity both before and during their respective services.

35. What were your reactions when you were listening to these statements?

36. What were the volunteers' reasons to come out?

37. What were the volunteers' reasons not to come out?

38. Remember: There is no rubric, guideline, or one-size-fits-all process Everyone is an individual, and everyone has different reasons for the choices they make An individual may come out to different people or groups at different periods of time

39. Section 3:Responding Part A- Definition of an Ally Part B - Anti-Gay Behavior and Beliefs Part C – Expectations Part D – Role-play

40. Part A – What is an “Ally” Someone who treats LGBTQ people the same as everyone else, with dignity and respect. A “safe person” with whom LGBTQ volunteers can speak openly. An open-minded, supportive, respectful and accepting person. Allies maintain the confidentiality of people who come to them.

41. What’s difficult about being an Ally?

42. What are the tradeoffs?What do you gain?

43. What are some ways to be supportive of LGBTQ volunteers while working with Peace Corps?

44. 10 Ways to Support LGBTQ Volunteers Confront your own prejudices and homophobia, even if it is uncomfortable to do so. Use all-inclusive language (i.e. “partner” instead of “boyfriend” or “girlfriend”) until you know one’s preference. Understand that you cannot tell if someone is gay by looking at him/her. Listen and be open-minded. Respect confidentiality. It is imperative that you can be trusted. If someone comes out to you, don’t assume that they have come out to others.

45. 10 Ways to Support LGBTQ Volunteers Be honored if someone comes out to you. Let others know that you find homophobic comments and jokes offensive. Educate others. Advocate for the trainee/volunteer when he or she is mistreated because of their LGBTQ identity. Know when and where to seek help.

46. Part B: Anti-Gay BehaviorsWhat are some behaviors that might make an LGBTQ volunteer feel discriminated against?

47. Denying that homosexuality exists • Claiming gay people are evil • Saying gay people should be killed for being gay • Saying homosexuality is repulsive • Proposing that a lesbian is a woman who couldn’t find a man or wants to be a man • Proposing that a gay man is a man who couldn’t find a woman or wants to be a woman • Claiming to be able to spot gay people • Using derogatory names for gay people What are some behaviors that might make an LGBTQ volunteer feel discriminated against?

48. Part C: What is Expected of Peace Corps Staff

49. Continuum of Acceptance • Disparage: Demean, Ridicule, criticize, belittle • Deny: To refuse to recognize or acknowledge • Acknowledge: To admit to be real or true; recognize the existence of • Affirm: Support, to state or assert positively

50. Continuum of Acceptance