- Are there any active LGBTQ student groups or organizations at Mason?
- Does Mason have a campus office for LGBTQ student services?
- Are LGBTQ-sensitive counseling services available?
- Are there other campus offices that are supportive of LGBTQ/ally students and issues?
- What activities are sponsored on campus for LGBTQ/ally students?
- Do LGBTQ-related bias incidents occur on campus?
- How does the University respond to such incidents?
- Are sexual orientation and gender identity included in the non-discrimination policy?
- Can I find supportive faculty and staff easily?
- How can I get involved in the Safe Zone Program?


Are there any active LGBTQ student groups or organizations at Mason?

YES. Mason currently has four LGBTQ student organizations:

Pride Alliance - LGBTQ and Straight Ally Student Alliance
(ALL students welcome!!!)
Meets Tuesdays, 7:30pm
email: pride@gmu.edu
web: http://mason.gmu.edu/~pride/
phone: 703-993-2895

GALLA - LGBTQ Association at Mason’s Law School
Email: gallagmu@hotmail.com

G3 (GMU’s GLBTQ Graduate Students’ organization)
Email: jbrownr@gmu.edu

Speak Out
Contact: Erin Neff

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Does Mason have a campus office for LGBTQ student services?

YES. The LGBTQ Office is part of Mason’s Office of Diversity Programs & Services (ODPS).

Ric Chollar - ODPS Assistant Director
location: SUB-I, Room 223 (Main floor, Back hallway)
email: rchollar@gmu.edu
phone: 993-2700

Students of ALL genders and sexual orientations are welcome in this safe, supportive, confidential space, which is shared between the LGBTQ staff person and student groups. The LGBTQ office provides advocacy, guidance and mentorship, community building, educational programming, resources, and coordination of the Safe Zone Program.

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Are LGBTQ-sensitive counseling services available?

YES. Mason’s Counseling Center staff is committed to providing services to all students who identify as LGBTQ or have concerns about sexual orientation or gender identity. The counselors actively keep themselves educated in LGBTQ-related topics. Services are free and confidential. Contact the Counseling Center at 993-2380 or visit in SUB-I, Room 364.

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Are there other campus offices that are supportive of LGBTQ/ally students and issues?

YES. Many Mason offices actively address LGBTQ issues, including (but not limited to):

• University Life Deans Offices (Rose Pascarell, 993-2884, Mark Kidd, 993-2909)

• Housing/Residence Life

• Alcohol, Drug, & Health Education (Susan Stahley, 993-3687, Danielle Lapierre, 993-3690)

• Multicultural Center (Dennis Webster, 993-4003)

• Equity Office (Camille Hazeur, 993-8730)

• Sexual Assault Services (Connie Kirkland, 993-4364)

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What activities are sponsored on campus for LGBTQ/ally students?

• October: National Coming Out Week – a variety of speakers and events

•April: Pride Week – movies, dances, speakers, performances, and discussion groups

• Mid Spring – ODPS Vision Awards Ceremony

• Throughout the Year: National Coalition Building Institute’s (NCBI) Prejudice Reduction workshops, all include LGBTQ issues, and at least one per year focused on LGBTQ/ally concerns [for info on any or all the above, contact ODPS, Multicultural Center, and/or Pride Alliance]

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Do LGBTQ-related bias incidents occur on campus?

Unfortunately, YES, as with most institutions across the country. The LGBTQ-related incidents most often heard about include: offensive graffiti; destruction of LGBTQ publicity materials; and insensitive or disrespectful questions and comments to transgender/nontraditionally-gendered students in restrooms.

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How does the University respond to such incidents?

Mason takes all incidents of bias and harassment – including anti-LGBTQ -- seriously. Concerns or complaints can be reported to ODPS, the Multicultural Center, or Campus Police. ODPS and the Multicultural Center oversee Mason’s Bias Incident Reporting process and document all reported bias incidents related to gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation (as well as categories such as age, race, ethnicity, religion, language, accent, or ability status). Depending on the type of incident and whether the perpetrator is known or not, there are a variety of ways Mason may respond, including enforcing Mason’s Judicial System for Student Conduct and/or Nondiscrimination, Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment, and Stalking policies.

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Are sexual orientation and gender identity included in the non-discrimination policy?

YES and NO. Currently Mason includes sexual orientation its non-discrimination policy. Also, the Cities of Alexandria and Falls Church, and Arlington and Fairfax Counties prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The addition of gender identity and gender expression to the existing non-discrimination policy at Mason is under discussion. However, at the state level, the Commonwealth of Virginia offers no inclusion of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression in its anti-discrimination laws.

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Can I find supportive faculty and staff easily?

YES. George Mason has an active Safe Zone program on campus, which helps LGBTQ students, staff and faculty identify "allies": safe listeners, advocates, and/or resources. Many supportive staff and faculty publicly display rainbow stickers and/or buttons that say, “An ally to all LGBTQ folks,” or “Safe Zone.” ODPS and the Safe Zone training group offer regularly scheduled ally trainings (see below), addressing sexual orientation, gender identity, heterosexism, homophobia, transgender concerns, ally skills, and LGBTQ resources. After completing the training, allies (who choose to) will obtain and post a Safe Zone symbol to be visibly identified as Safe Zones.

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How can I get involved in the Safe Zone Program?

Register for Safe Zone trainings, by emailing rchollar@gmu.edu, or by calling the Office of Diversity Programs & Services at 993-2700. This training is recommended for all faculty, staff, and students who interact with others in an advisory, teaching, service, or leadership capacity.

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