The LGBT Equity Center and Rainbow Terrapin Network are hosting two informative training programs this month. The sessions will cover social justice, LGBT allyship and inclusive language, among other topics with the same goal of continuing to make this university an inclusive institution.

The Rainbow Terrapin Network Membership Training, scheduled for Sept. 17 at 4 p.m., and the Trans* Advocacy Training, planned for Sept. 30 at 9:30 a.m., will both occur in 1310 Marie Mount Hall. Both meetings cover the fundamentals of how to be an ally for fellow LGBT Terps, and are intended for this university’s students, staff and faculty as well as local community members.

“The program is intended for anyone who wants to be an ally and advocate,” said Nicholas Sakurai, associate director of the LGBT Equity Center. “Some people have taken LGBT courses and written dissertations for those classes, and others know very few words and are just beginning to become an educated ally.”

Both programs are three hours long and are meant to give this university’s students, staff and faculty the tools to actively support inclusive dorms, classrooms and departments. The meetings are not intended to just create a “safe zone” for a few hours, but rather to teach attendees how to support LGBT friends and family, both on- and off-campus.

With the network striving for a more LGBT-inclusive campus, the topics covered in the training programs reflect that purpose. Originally, counselors taught participants how to deal with real-life situations, like consoling a friend who was rejected after coming out of the closet. Now, participants focus on vocalizing inclusive language and advocating for a policy with real change.

“We want people to be proactive and think about how they can help make positive changes for LGBT friends and family today,” Sakurai said.

The meetings have been an incredibly helpful resource for those who see LGBT friends, family and classmates in tough positions but don’t know how to help, according to Sakurai. Hundreds of LGBT allies have passed the training sessions and received answers to questions they once thought were too embarrassing, giving them the necessary tools to support those who need it the most.

According to Sakurai, among those who have benefited from the programs are parents who believe their children are transgender, along with resident assistants who are unsure how to ask their resident about their preferred pronoun. Others have noticed the scarcity of gender-neutral bathrooms on the campus and have asked academic departments if they would implement such facilities in their buildings.

The most important aspect about the two programs, according to Sakurai, is the lack of the word “safety” in their name. This distinction is crucial because it sets these programs apart from= similar programs held on campuses across the nation.

“While many campuses call their programs a ‘safe zone program,’ we have a different name for a reason,” Sakurai said. “We are not trying to have people think safety is end goal. It’s low bar. We don’t want to create an environment where we think only some places are safe to be yourself. We want people to be themselves everywhere and flourish.”