Being openly homosexual at Iowa State can be emotionally taxing.

Fortunately for members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, there are straight allies to help make the campus more inclusive.

Three ISU faculty and staff members were honored Tuesday in the third “Ally Recognition Ceremony,” held at the Memorial Union. The ceremony was part of the National Coming Out Days celebration, which runs until Friday.

William Jenks, associate professor of chemistry, Sally Deters, residence life coordinator, and Corlice Peterson Brooke, professor of human development and family science, were lauded for their support of the LGBT community.

Sarah Schweitzer, president of the Alliance, said the nomination process took place at the beginning of the semester, and anybody could suggest a candidate that he or she felt was a good ally.

Essay summaries about the allies were submitted, and then the executive members of the Alliance picked who they thought were best, she said.

Schweitzer, sophomore in history and women’s studies, said allies are crucial to helping members of the LGBT community feel comfortable.

“We can’t do anything without allies,” she said. “These guys have given us so much support that we have to recognize them in some way.

“We really care about what they’ve done for us, for the Alliance, [Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Student Services] and us in general.”

Allies don’t always have to be active in the Alliance, Schweitzer said, noting that faculty members such as former Associate Dean of Students Houston Dougharty have been very active with LGBT-friendly programs, such as the Safe Zone project.

Jenks said he does his part to put up appropriate literature and schedules of Alliance events.

“They just don’t find their way into our part of campus very much,” Jenks said, noting that he tries to support LGBT issues in everyday conversation.

Deters said she tries to be inclusive in her dialogue, to display openness with residence hall programming to all different groups and to confront derogatory language about lesbians and gays.

“[The Department of Residence does] all sorts of things. We hire staff who role-model openness; that may include LGBT folk, it may not,” said Deters, adding that the department encourages programs such as Safe Zone.

Jenks said he also believes the ISU faculty is becoming more willing to say openly that they are friends of the LGBT community.

“I hope that becomes a really universal thing, that we don’t have to have ally recognition ceremonies or National Coming Out Day,” he said.

“At this stage, we’re still in the growing process.”

Deters said she can’t say if the atmosphere for gays and lesbians in the residence halls has improved, but she doesn’t believe it has gotten worse.

As for advice she would give to someone who wants to be an active ally, Deters said there are steps that can be taken.

“I think that we all need to take an active role in being accepting of all students,” she said.

Brooke was out of her office and unavailable for comment.