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Campus and Community Belonging

Safe Zone

The Safe Zone program provides a visible network of allies for LGBT+ and other individuals seeking information and assistance regarding sexual orientation, gender identity, harassment, and/or discrimination. The Safe Zone program aims to increase awareness, knowledge, and sensitivity about important issues affecting LGBT+ students, faculty, and staff to foster a safe, welcoming climate at the University of Montevallo. Our guiding assumptions are that all learning and work environments should be safe and free of sex- and gender-based discrimination, prejudice, and harassment; further, the environment should be one in which every student and employee is free to thrive on an academic, professional, and personal level based on respect and dignity. We believe it possible to adhere to individual moral and ethical perspectives and religious beliefs while behaving respectfully to all people. The Safe Zone committee sends a message that sexual orientations and gender presentations are part of our culture and are acknowledged and supported.

UM Pride Scholarship

Recipient will be determined on an annual basis and will be awarded $500 per semester for 2 semesters or $1,000 annually. The award amount will increase based on growth of the endowment. *Recipient must be a full time student at UM *Recipient may be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student *Previous recipients are eligible to reapply Recipient will be a student w/demonstrated efforts to create inclusivity for underrepresented communities including LGBTQ+, Women, African Americans, Native Americans/Indigenous Cultures, Hispanic, Latino/Latinx, Asian/Pacific islanders, etc. with a proven commitment to diversity, advocacy, equality & inclusion. Recipient must submit a personal statement (no longer than 1,000 words that demonstrates experience in specific progressive social activism in any of the categories listed above. Recipient must be in good standing with the University and maintain a minimum 2.8 GPA The scholarship may be used by the student to pay any costs related to tuition or books.
Email Safe Zone Committee Chair Connie Couch at ccouch@lixubing.com for additional information.

Safe Zone Events & Training Dates

TBD

Safe Zone Emergency Fund

Safe Zone Emergency Fund provides financial assistance to LGBTQIA students at UM facing financial hardship.

Email Safe Zone Committee Chair Connie Couch at ccouch@lixubing.com for additional information.

To make a one-time or monthly donation to the fund, please visit Annual Giving, and select “Safe Zone Emergency Fund” from the Designation drop down menu.

Meetings and Events in the Montevallo community

Click the links below to learn more about community events.

Spectrum (UM’s Gender/Sexuality Alliance)

Montevallo PFLAG

People in Crisis:

Free and confidential Central Alabama Crisis Line, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week: 205.323.7777, http:www.crisiscenterbham.com/crisis-line.php.

Free and confidential National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week: 1.800.273.TALK(8255), http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/.

Free and confidential Trans Lifeline– Transgender Crisis Line: 877.565.8860, http://www.translifeline.org.

Local/Regional Resources

ACLU of AlabamaAlabama Safe Schools CoalitionAssociation for LGBT Issues in Counseling of AlabamaBirmingham AIDS OutreachBirmingham ShoutCampaign for Southern EqualityCentral Alabama PrideEquality AlabamaFree2Be GLBT Advocacy & Youth ServicesHuman Rights Campaign AlabamaLGBTQ+ Scholarship ResourcesMagic City Acceptance ProjectPFLAG- a Family and Ally organization – BirminghamPFLAG- a Family and Ally organization – MontevalloSouthern Poverty Law CenterTrans in the South – A Guide to Resources and Services

National Resources

Asexual Visibility and Education NetworkBisexual.orgBrown Boi ProjectCampus PrideChildren of Lesbians and Gays EverywhereConsortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource ProfessionalsGLSEN – Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education NetworkGLAAD – Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against DefamationGLBT National Help CenterGay and Lesbian Medical AssociationGay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical ProfessionalsHuman Rights CampaignImmigration EqualityIt Gets Better ProjectLambda LegalMovement Advancement ProjectNational Center for Lesbian RightsNational Center for Transgender EqualityNational LBGTQ Task ForceNational Black Justice CoalitionOrganization Intersex International United StatesOut and Equal Workplace AdvocatesPFLAG – a Family and Ally OrganizationPoint Foundation – National LGBTQ Scholarship FundReaching Out – LGBT MBA StudentsTrans – HealthThe Trevor Project

LGBT+ Faith Organizations

Affirmation LGBT Mormons Families & FriendsAssociation of Welcoming and Affirming BaptistsCenter for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and MinistryDignity USA – GLBT CatholicsHRC Religion and Faith ResourcesIntegrity (GLBT Episcopalians)JQ International – LGBTQ Jewish & Ally CommunityMore Light PresbyteriansMuslims for Progressive Values, LGBTQI ResourcesPFLAG Birmingham’s list of local affirming and welcoming communities of faithReconciling Ministries Network – MethodistReconciling Works – Lutherans for full participationOpen and Affirming Coalition of United Church of ChristUnited Universalist Association