ANU LGBTQIA+ Ally Network
An ally is someone who helps and supports someone else. An ally is someone who works across their own identities, communities and experiences to support social justice.
Free ally training for ANU students is offered several times throughout the year. Please click the link on top right to register online. ANU staff members can register for Ally training through HORUS.
Expectations
Allies are not experts about matters of sexuality and gender identity - they are people who strongly support making ANU an environment where all students can safely study free of harassment or discrimination.
In particular, an Ally understands the reasons why many transgender, bisexual, gay, lesbian, intersex, or asexual people are fearful of being harassed or discriminated against, and why it is important to have allies who are prepared to speak out on their behalf or advocate alongside them. Having trained allies helps create a network of support across the University.
Allies undertake a voluntary role knowing that their contribution helps make ANU a better place to work and study for everyone. An ANU Ally is expected to:
- Be a role model for the University community through their behaviour and language.
- Raise the visibility of the ANU Ally Network by placing posters in suitable areas and displaying their Ally sign in their work area.
- Provide a confidential and safe environment for people to make enquiries about issues related to LGBTIQA+ matters.
- Provide information and appropriate referral.
- Proactively address homophobic or heterosexist behaviour in the workplace.
- Actively seek to extend their own knowledge and understanding about the issues.
LGBTIQA+
Sometimes acronyms are a confusing mix of letters and we are not always aware of what they mean individually. Below is an explanation of the letters in LGBTIQA+. It is also intended to capture diverse sexualities and gender identities, including (but not limited to) people who are agender, non-binary, gender fluid, asexual and pansexual, as well as individuals who prefer to use specialised personal terms to describe their own sex, gender or sexuality.
L - Lesbian: A woman who has significant romantic or sexual attractions primarily to members of the same gender or sex.
G - Gay: A person who has significant romantic or sexual attractions primarily to members of the same gender or sex. Traditionally associated with male identified persons.
B - Bisexual: A person with the potential to be attracted, romantically and sexually, to people of more than one sex or gender, not necessarily at the same time, not necessarily in the same way, and not necessarily to the same degree.
T - Transgender: A broad term for those whose gender identity or gender expression is not congruent with the gender they were assigned at birth and/or whose gender is not validated by the dominant culture.
I - Intersex: A general term used for a variety of conditions in which a person is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that does not fit the typical definitions of female or male.
Q - Queer: Reclaimed derogatory slang for the gender and sexual minority communities. Not accepted by all who identify as a gender or sexual minority.
A- Asexual: A sexual orientation where a person experiences little or no sexual attraction or desire. The term may hold a different meaning to different people who identify with it in different ways.