Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 24, No. 35, Ed. 1 Friday, January 18, 2008 Page: 3 of 60
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soundout
By John Wright
CamyGo
Cathy Gonzalez, an information systems manager at the University of North Texas in
Denton, is the sponsor of the UNT Ally Program. For more info, go to www.unt.edu/ally.
H / and when did the UNT Ally Program get started?
ItJfcas started in 1999 by Dan Emenheiser and Mary Finley with the focus of establishing a
Safe Zone program for LGBT people at UNT. The program's goal is to achieve a culture
where any person can study and /or work in an environment free of discrimination and
harassment. Students, staff and faculty are educated through Ally training sessions.
Participants receive an Ally certificate to display in their office, Work space or dorm room.
How did you get involved with the UNT Ally Program?
•Ylv daughter came out to me in 2003 when she was being discharged from the Army under
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell," Her coming out was particularly significant as she became a plain-
tiff in Cook v. Rumsfield (now titled Cook v. Gates). I was very lacking in knowledge about
LGBT issues and, as a UNT employee, I went through Ally training to begin my education
grogess.
H sany people are in the program and how does it work?
were are more than 400 UNT and honorary Allies. Some of our most noteworthy honorary
Allies are Coretta Scott King, B.D. Wong and Lupe Valdez. Training is every fall and spring.
It consists of five hours of speakers, interactive discussions and activities. We partner with
speakers from the Resource Center of Dallas, YouthFirst Texas and other LGBT organizations.
Has the program been successful?
In-w06, UNT was named one of the top 100 campuses for LGBT students in the "Advocate
College Guide." I beieve this status is directly related to the Ally Program's efforts.
[ understand you've become an activist for LGBT issues in general as a result of your daughter. What are
some of the other issues/groupstevents you've been involved with?
iaafa member of PFLAG Dallas and was privileged to participate in the Pride parade this
year. The response the PFLAG group received from the crowd was amazing and made me
very proud to be a parent and Ally on behalf of not only my daughter but all the many young
people I come into contact with at UNT. Recently I became involved with Equality Texas and
am working in lobbying efforts for upcoming legislation, particularly with regards to inclu-
sive language in school policies on bullying and harassment. Being an active church member
in Piano, where I live, I also work toward acceptance and inclusion in the religious commu-
nity. I feel I must continue to speak out whenever possible until the day comes when my
daughter and others have the same choices to live safely and happily as any straight person.
Soundout is a weekly column featuring people whose jobs and interests have an impact on the daily lives of members
of the LGBT community. It features those who often go unnoticed by the press and community. If you'd like to recom-
mend someone to cover in this column, editor@dallasvoice.com.
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Nash, Tammye. Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 24, No. 35, Ed. 1 Friday, January 18, 2008, newspaper, January 18, 2008; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth238995/m1/3/: accessed July 9, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.