1. Northwestern Greek Allies
Ally Development in
Fraternities and Sororities

2. WELCOME Introductions Northwestern Greek Allies, founded 2009
Design and implement a longstanding organization that promotes educational programming and diversity awareness in regards to LGBT and questioning students and their allies.
Education, Outreach and Advocacy
Becca

3. WHAT DO WE HEAR ABOUT … About students in fraternities or sororities?
About lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students?
About lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students in fraternities and sororities?
Becca(3)/Max(4)

4. HIDDEN POPULATION Who knows someone who is LGBT?
How do we know that someone is LGBT?
If 10% of the population is LGBT then…
Total Students: 7800
780 LGBT undergrads
Fraternities and Sororities: 2604
260 LGBT members (potential – Is this really reflective?)
MGC: 52
5 LGBT Members
Becca

5. LAMBDA 10 NATIONAL LGBT FRATERNITY AND SORORITY RESEARCH
Becca
Explain Lambda 10 (lambda10.org)
LAMBDA 10 NATIONAL LGBT FRATERNITY AND SORORITY RESEARCH

6. RESEARCH
Qualitative study of experiences of LGBT peoples in fraternities and sororities from 1960 to 2007
Case (1996) found that LGB students joined fraternities and sororities for reasons similar to those of heterosexual students: friendship, social activities, and a sense of belonging.
Becca

7. RESEARCH
Results found that the heterocentric nature of Greek social activities, homophobic attitudes, and the perceived need to hide their sexual orientation detracted from the experience of LGBT members.
LGBT members often voice no opposition to homophobic behavior for fear that it might reveal their identity.

8. WHAT TO DO IF YOUR FRIEND IS LGBT
Do not assume sexual orientation
Do not assume LGBT friends find you attractive
Be honest about your feelings
Your friend has not changed
Respect confidentiality
Know your resources
Hold all friends to equal standards

9. WAYS TO BE A GOOD ALLY Don’t assume everyone is heterosexual
DO NOT EVER out someone – just because you might know, don’t assume that others do or should
Avoid anti-LGBT jokes and conversations
Actively pursue a process of self-education - read and ask questions
Interrupt prejudice and take action against oppression, even when people from the target group are not present
Confront issues in private with individuals – not groups
Stand up to offensive language – “That’s so gay”
Statistics
As of 11/03/09, there were 154,000 web sites with the phrase “that’s so gay”
“so gay” was used 488 times on Twitter as (Thinkb4youspeak.org)

10. Thank You!
Questions?
For more information on Northwestern Greek Allies, contact the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life.
Information in this PowerPoint has been used from the Lambda 10 Project, ThinkB4YouSpeak.com, University of Michigan Spectrum Center, and the Northwestern University LGBT Resource Center.