College employee to provide safe zone training

Melanie McLemore grew up in a small town in Alabama. In this rural setting, McLemore grew up in church and it took some time to accept her queer identity.  

“I didn't accept my identity until I was 18 because I grew up in a church culture that wouldn't accept me if I was being my authentic self,” she said. “My goal is to love people and to help people have a positive experience with their own queer identity and others who may be queer. I love my community and want to be a resource to help others." 

On Thursday, June 19, McLemore, the Resident Director at Butler CC, will lead a Safe Zone training at First Methodist Church, located at 421 W. Central Ave. in El Dorado, which will start at 5:30 p.m. At this training, attendees can expect to learn more about the LGBTQ community along with gender and sexuality. 

McLemore also works alongside the College Community Council, at Butler CC. In this council, she worked on the training committee and had previous knowledge of Safe Zone training. Because of this previous knowledge, she started offering the training through the council at Butler.  

McLemore was approached by a member of the First Methodist Church member, Teressa Eastman, who works at the college as the Disability Services coordinator, to provide such training.  

“I hope that attendees gain more knowledge about the LGBTQ+ community,” McLemore said. “I also start each of these trainings by telling people I'm not trying to change minds; I'm trying to give people knowledge about a group of people that might be different than them.” 

In a small community it's easy to assume that there aren't any LGBTQ+ people, but McLemore has found a wonderful community in El Dorado. It's important to have this training, so that the local community has the language and resources to support it. According to McLemore, Safe Zone training offers support through educating people. This training gives resources, language, and helps build understanding of the queer experience. It's a way to build empathy and compassion. 

“We are in a day and age where this work is vital,” McLemore said. “We are living in an "us vs. them" mentality. That mentality has never produced good fruit. It produces poison. This training helps bring understanding and empathy. We are all going through the human experience together and if we work together that experience will be enriched.”