For Teachers

Are you looking to help others learn, by teaching or facilitating conversations, about LGBTQ+ identities, gender & sexuality, or inclusion & allyship? Our goal is for The Safe Zone Project to have everything you need!

We have activities & curricula (with exercises, lesson plans, and all the handouts and participant packets you need), training resources (things like evaluations, edugraphics, and other housekeeping things), and lots of articles about facilitation & pedagogy.

Did you make up all these activities?

Nope! Much of the content and structure of these activities exists in what we think of as “the commons,” or the collective knowledge and wisdom of educators who have been doing gender and sexuality education/activism for a long time. Most of the activities exist out there already in multiple iterations and variations, and we (Meg… Read more »

What is the difference between a 101 and a 201 activity?

A 101 activity is one where the participants/learners do not need any prior knowledge in order for the activity to go well and for them to learn/get something out of the activity. However, those with prior knowledge will still likely benefit! On the other hand, a 201 activity requires some prior familiarity with the topic… Read more »

LGBTQ Umbrella

A mini explanation of queer, LGBTQ. A useful place to start helping folks separate genders from sexualities.

Group Norms

Set your training up for success by beginning with shared group expectations.

Is your curriculum really free? What’s the catch?

Yes, it 100% is. And there are no catches. For serious. We get it. The way we do things is a little, well, different. A lot of people have grown to expect curriculum to cost hundreds of dollars to use, and to come with a lot of caveats, usage restrictions, and hoops to jump through. A lot… Read more »

Is your curriculum evidence-based?

Nope. Our curriculum is evidence-informed, but not evidence-based. Here’s why: We tweak the curriculum several times a year based on changes in culture, research, and feedback from facilitators. We overhaul the curriculum every year (including frequent substantive changes to the structure, or replacing activities) Our curriculum is used in over 100 countries in more capacities… Read more »

Are Safe Zone trainings just for universities?

Nope! Not just for universities. While Safe Zone programs are concentrated in higher education (and often at four-year universities in particular), there are organizations in all different fields who have and are starting Safe Zone programs. There are Safe Zone programs and folks conducting Safe Zone workshops in: Hospitals & medical schools Small local non-profits… Read more »

Demystifying Coming Out

A handout (and handy activity) for demystifying coming out as well as some easy do and don’ts when it comes to supporting someone’s coming out process.

Can I modify the curriculum / resources?

Yes yes yes! Please do. Everything is uncopyrighted, and we did that for YOU. No need to ask permission, but we would appreciate you sharing back anything cool you make, so we can spread the word.

Core Vocabulary

This activity focuses in on the essential vocabulary and LGBTQ terminology relating to gender and sexuality.

First Impressions of LGBTQ People

An activity that will provides an opportunity for participants to reflect on their first understandings and assumptions of LGBTQ individuals.

Privilege for Sale

This activity helps participant investigate privilege by inviting them to identify what privileges they find personally important.

How to Read a Group

The importance of responding to the group’s needs, checking in with individual members, and how to pick up what they’re putting down

Compassionate Curiosity

How a style of question asking and digging in for more information can bring your workshop to new heights

Coming Out Story

An experiment in empathizing with a hypothetical person’s experiences, struggles, and setbacks with the lifelong process that is coming out.

Genderbread Person

Using the Genderbread Person as a guide, the activity leads participants to understand the important difference between gender, sex, and sexual orientation.

Ace Inclusivity

A lecture to help participants become more aware of and sensitive to asexuality.

Scenarios

An opportunity for participants to work through how they would handle particular situations regarding gender, sexuality and LGBTQ issues.

Anonymous Q&A

This activity creates the opportunity to for participants to ask what they are most interested in with anonymity.

Identity Time

An activity that provokes reflection on the different aspects of your life that would be altered if you identified with a different sexuality or gender identity.

Identity Signs

This activity focuses on what are our salient identities in particular circumstances. How do our different identities intersect, interact, and affect our daily lives.

Introductions

An essential component to any workshop, intros are when participants learn a little bit about you, and you a little bit about them.

Changing Perspective

This tiny activity demonstrates how changing your perspective can make something look completely different!