This year Western Australia became the first state in the country to have all four of its public universities running an Ally Program to foster sexual diversity, and last month, during Pride, the universities made their presence and policy of inclusion known.
In 2001-2002, as Western Australia was caught in the grips of a debate on gay law reform that eventually saw the passing of some of the most progressive laws in the country, the universities, particularly the University of Western Australia, were taking notice.
As talkback radio and print media gave voice to a range of views on sexual diversity, including those of the homophobic and heterosexist, UWA decided to examine the attitudes of its staff and students. The Rainbow Project in 2001 surveyed students across a number of disciplines to establish what their attitude was towards sexual diversity.
“The Rainbow Project established that while students were tolerant, they were not necessarily standing up when you would like people to stand up and say, ‘that joke offends me’. There were also indications that some students were uncomfortable with displays of same-sex affection. So, while attitudes of students seemed tolerant, we were concerned that they were passive in their tolerance.’ Beverley Hill, Equity and Diversity Manager at UWA, told OUTinPerth.
According to research as many as 70% of lesbian and gay people are abused as they go through school, a figure that further motivated UWA to take the lead and improve the situation for GLBTI students and staff.
In 2002, UWA was the first university in Australia to implement the Ally Program, a program originally started at American universities that establishes a network of ‘Ally’ people who attend training to understand the difficulties facing GLBTI people and then display an Ally sign to show that they are an advocate for sexual diversity.
Following UWA’s lead, Curtin University implemented an Ally Program last year and Murdoch and Edith Cowan Universities came on board this year.
The result of the expansion of the Ally Program across the public higher education sector in Western Australia has had noticeable results, particularly during last month’s Pride festivities. In early October the four universities came together for an Intervarsity Winedown at UWA, featuring Rodney Croome as the guest speaker.
Both UWA and Murdoch hosted queer film events, and ECU and Murdoch held queer exhibitions, while UWA ran additional Ally training sessions and a forum on GLBTI ageing. Finally, the universities put together a joint float for the parade on October 27.
Already Ms Hill and the other university program directors are discussing plans for next year, including the possibility of having a stall at Fairday.
One of the most visible marks in the past month was the flying of the Rainbow flag at UWA. With 50,000 cars passing UWA weekly, the flag symbolized the role of the universities and their respective Ally Programs in fostering sexual diversity in the community.
“By establishing a community of people who are aware and not afraid to be out there, who will participate in discussing relevant LGBTI issues or who will literally ‘fly the flag’, we start to create an environment in which respect for each other improves and individuals feel more accepted,’ said Geraldine Box, Murdoch University Manager of Equity, Health and Counselling.
