Greek Houses to Create Allies Agains Homophobia

by Amanda Lippon

Des Moines, Iowa (Feb. 5, 1997)-- Beginning next week in various sorority houses on the Drake campus, Robin Kniech (AS4) will be holding a workshop to create awareness of homophobia and to explain how to be an Ally to someone who may be "coming out."

The workshop aims to help eliminate homophobia. "The workshop begins with a basic understanding," said Kimberly Gartner (AS 4), a co-facilitator of the workshop.

Creating a common ground of knowledge is used to help to eliminate feelings of anxiety and confusion. By giving definitions first, Ally facilitators hope to prevent people from feeling alienated because they don't understand what is being discussed. Then exercises and activities are used to help understand the realities of persons living homosexual or bisexual lives. These activities are used to help illustrate issues gay, lesbian and bisexual people are faced with every day.

The workshop will present the possibilities of being homosexual in the Greek system.

FIve of the six sororities will be having Kniech and her various co- facilitators come into the houses to present their workshop.

The program began with a show of interest in the issues of homosexuality by members of the Greek system. Ally facilitators hope that the interest will spread through the campus to help create a more understanding environment.

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