UVic may follow other universities in B.C. in creating a positive spaces alliance to visually recognize people in the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans) community and their allies on campus.

The alliance would operate through the office of Equity and Human Rights and could be initiated as soon as next September, according to Equity Advisor Pamela Brown. But first she wants to make sure stakeholders support such an alliance.

“We don’t want to just target a community and create something if it isn’t what they want,” Brown explained. “I can take the lead in facilitating the first few meetings to bring people together, but the network needs to sustain itself from there.”

When Brown began at UVic last July, she thought an allies network was already in place here.

“We had positive space paraphernalia in our office and I’ve seen it around campus, but it turned out most of it was from different universities,” she explained. When she asked around, many people seemed interested in creating an alliance, but despite an attempt in 2004, nobody had successfully organized one.

“It seems like such a natural fit for UVic, the diversity on campus is really incredible” she said. “It’s in the strategic plan to encourage diversity of all types.”

According to UVic Pride Collective co-ordinator Andrew Shopland, the university is a safe space for LGBT folks, but the increased awareness would be beneficial.

“I think what’s so great about these type of alliances is that it creates something for our allies,” Shopland said. “I think it’s good to encourage more people to be involved in queer issues and advocacy.”

The University of B.C. equity office has run the positive spaces campaign since 2002. Gabriel Bedard, a UBC equity adviser who works on the campaign, said the program continues to be a success and their workshops are always full.

To join the campaign and have their name added to what is currently a 17-page directory of allied students, staff and faculty, individuals complete a 3.5-hour training seminar and are given a poster and button to identify themselves.

“It’s amazing to see the posters around campus and realize how big the community is,” Bedard said.

Brown thinks this would be a great thing to see at UVic.

“It might be the most important thing in the world for a new person to be able to identify people that they can go to for support,” she said. “It really shifts the environment of a workplace.”

While alliance members aren’t trained as councillors, they are usually given a resource directory and will refer people to services.

Brown said she has already heard from many people on campus who want to be involved in an alliance. In fact, more than she expected.

“I’ve had to book a new room for the first meeting,” she said.

To get involved in planning for a positive spaces alliance at UVic, or to attend a meeting scheduled for Monday, Jan. 19 at 5 p.m., contact Brown at

pamelab@uvic.ca.