Evaluation of an LGBTQIA+ Safe Zone Training at a Southern HBCU

Abstract

The LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, plus) community encompasses people who identify with a growing diversity of categories within the broader area of sexual identity, including sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions, and biological genders. In Florida, it is estimated that almost one million individuals identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer, making it vitally important that LGBTQIA+ competency training be presented to social work students before they move into Florida’s professional social work arena. Safe Zone training attempts to increase people’s knowledge of the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as self-awareness regarding biases and prejudices toward members of this community. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a Safe Zone training when implemented in an undergraduate classroom setting in the Department of Social Work at a southern historically Black university. Findings suggest that the classroom setting may be an effective way to reach these students.