Anyone who has felt shunned or alone, you may understand the value of having an ally.

About 30 students, faculty and university staff members learned how to be an ally to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender population on campus Monday afternoon when Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Student Services hosted a panel discussion titled, “Coming Out — As An Ally.”

Panel member Nancy Evans, associate professor of education, defined an ally as someone in a privileged group who actively works to help members of an oppressed group.

“Being an ally is more than positive feelings or seeing the importance of social justice,” Evans said. She said an ally furthers the cause by being active.

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Ally Alliance recognized four allies in the first annual Alliance Recognition Reception, which followed the discussion. Allies Suzanne Franzen, Meron Wondwosen, Susan Vega-Garcia and Jeanine Bessette were honored.

Associate Dean of Students W. Houston Dougharty said being an ally is part of his job but he said he also lives his commitment to helping others feel accepted.

Dougharty has conducted doctoral research on homophobia on college campuses and has a gay brother and a lesbian sister, he said.

“As the parent of a five-year-old, I think it is important that she knows her Aunt Adrian and Uncle Phil are as much a part of the family as everyone else,” Dougharty said.

Dougharty admitted it is not always easy to be a good ally.

“Once you say you’re an ally, [it] doesn’t mean you won’t screw up,” Houston said. “There is no cookbook on the choices we end up making every day.”

Several tips for being an ally on campus suggested during the panel discussion included:

• Say the words lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.

• Be willing to use those words in conversation.

• Know that homosexuality is not a disorder.

• Display symbols of support such as pink triangles and rainbows.

• Establish a safe zone where LGBT students can speak freely without being threatened.

Evans and Vernon Wall co-edited the book, “Beyond Tolerance: Gays, Lesbians and Bisexuals on Campus.” It is one of the only resources that gives educators an overview of LGBT concerns and offers suggestions on how to work in this area.

Evans said she found in her research that even small things mean a lot to members of the LGBT community.

“Seeing a symbol made a tremendous difference to students,” Evans said. “Just knowing a department or residence hall was safe made a [big] difference.”

One woman in the audience expressed appreciation for the panel discussion. She said it was nice to see allies speak out because they are more effective than LGBT spokespersons.

Houston reminded the audience that people don’t have to be perfect to be an ally.

“After each experience like this we are a little more confident,” Houston said. “We won’t always get it right. Culture will not shift tomorrow, but we can affect the climate.”

“We don’t all have to have the same voice or be allies in the same way,” Houston said.