University of Southern Maine Safe Zone Project
The mission of the Safe Zone Project at the University of Southern Maine is to visibly identify and support those members of the University community who are safe and supportive contacts for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer students, staff and faculty.
Safe Zone Project volunteers participate in a 1.5-hour orientation program that introduces them to the various aspects of the lives and experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals and community. The program focuses on the issues that LGBTQ+ people face and how we (LGBTQ+ and heterosexual and/or cisgender) can be successful, safe and supportive allies. Once a volunteer has gone through the orientation program, they can display the Safe Zone symbol on their office door, desk space or person.
Programs can be scheduled for your group, staff or population by contacting sarah.e.holmes1@maine.edu or meghan.barrett@maine.edu
Resources for Transgender, Non-Binary, and Gender Expansive Students
The University of Maine System’s Name Usage Policy has been updated and improved (May 2023). The University recognizes that many members of its community use names other than their legal names. For some students and employees, a chosen or preferred name may be an important component of their identity. Therefore, the University has established this policy which allows students and employees to indicate their preferred/chosen names to the University community even if they have not changed their legal names. For more information and instructions on updating your name, email address, USM ID card, and other essential items, please refer to the Policy.
Resources collected by USM Women and Gender Studies for Trans Inclusive & Trans Literate Resources
Resources collected by the Trans Youth Equality Foundation
Resources collected by the Maine Transgender Network