You Are Welcome Here

YOU ARE WELCOME HERE: WHITE CARDS

The “You are Welcome Here” campaign seeks to increase visibility, to identify multiple points of access to LBGTQ+ support services, and to create a more welcoming campus environment.

The campaign asks MIT community members to post ta“You Are Welcome Here” sign in a visible location. By posting the sign, individuals are affirming that they:

  1. Will avoid heterosexist assumptions, confront homophobia, and use inclusive language (“partner” or “spouse,” rather than “boyfriend” or “wife”);

    1. ​Example: Someone is talking with a woman, Tammy Beaver, and assumes she is straight and asks, "Do you have a boyfriend?" Instead of asking, "Do you have a partner/spouse?" This lets Tammy Beaver decide if she want to answer and say if she has a partner or if she wants to say she has a wife/girlfriend without having to out herself.  (Or you could not ask about someone's relationship status/marital status unless the person chooses to bring it up.)

  2. Believe that our campus is enriched by the inclusion of LBGT people; and

  3. Will refer individuals to the LBGTQ+ Services and other appropriate resources.

The Campaign is built upon similar "Safe Space" or "Safe Zone" programs that have been implemented in schools, universities, companies, and communities across the United States. A listing of schools that sponsor such program is available. Please note that individuals who display the “You Are Welcome Here” sign may not have gone through the full 2 hour You Are Welcome Here training, but they are agreeing to the statements above and helping to create a more welcoming environment on campus.

How to Get a Card

All are welcome to request one.  There is no training attached to this card.  
 
Note: There are two versions of the white card and all are welcome and both are valid.  One of them has the old trans.mit.edu website on it and the other one does not.  The trans.mit.edu website is now moved under lbgtq.mit.edu website in its own tab. The trans.mit.edu website will redirect to our main website to the trans tab.
 
The newer YAWH cards do not have the old trans.mit.edu website listed.   
 
  1. You can stop by Lauryn McNair's office (50-256) and grab a white card from their office mailbox outside their door.  Or when the Rainbow Lounge is open (50-250) you can walk into the center by our resource table and grab some.
  2. You can email lbgt@mit.edu if you would like to a YAWH white digital card that you can put in your email signature, up on your website, etc. It is now available in a digital format as well which can be used in your email signature or on websites.  
  3. You can email spxce@mit.edu to coordinate a time/date to go to the SPXCE center in W31-110 to grab a card.

 

YOU ARE WELCOME HERE: BLACK CARDS

Please click the sidebar to fill out the YAWH request form for your group/community/department.  It will be reviewed by the YAWH team - comprised of LBGTQ+ Services, ICEO, and HR - who will get back to you in 2-3 business days.  If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to the team at: yawh@mit.edu

A Note For Staff/Faculty:  HR runs YAWH trainings once a month through Atlas. You can find the dates and sign up here 

If none of those dates work, you can sign up to be notified when new dates are posted. If you want your group to be trained on a different date you can fill out the YAWH request form.

These trainings cover: allyship, terminology, statistics, gender bias, stereotypes, LBGTQ+ resources, current events, and more to help equip participants with active skills to be a resource.

Responsibilities of receiving a YAWH trained card are attending a 2 hour training by SPXCE as well as agreeing to:

  • Be a visible and vocal ally
  • Be an active ally
  • Keep your YAWH trained card/virtual card with you
  • Challenge other's language
  • Be familiar with resources at MIT to refer students and staff to
  • Continue to educate yourself
  • Know how to respond to hate/bias incidents
  • Continually make changes for a more inclusive environment

At the end of the training you will recieve the black specific card.