2. Respect confidentiality.

3. Stay informed on all diversity issues and resources.

4. Know your limitations.  If you are uncomfortable dealing with an any issue, refer the person to someone else.

5.Be supportive.

6.Avoid language that implies that all people are in the majority (heterosexual, Caucasian, Republican / Democratic, or Judeo-Christian).

7.Challenge bigoted jokes and remarks.

8. Counter statements about sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, beliefs, culinary, etc. that are not relevant to decisions or evaluations being madeabout students, staff, or faculty.

9. Invite "out" professionals to conduct seminars and provide guest lectures in your classes and offices.  Invite them for topics in their domain of expertise.

10. Do not force people out of the closet nor come out for them to others.  The process of coming out is one of enlarging a series of concentric circles of those who know.  The process should be in the control of the individual until (and if) they consider it
public knowledge.

11. Do not include sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, political, culinary, etc. information in letters of reference or answer specific or implied questions without first clarifying how "out" the person chooses to be in the specific process in question.  Because your environment may be safe does not mean that all environments are safe.

12. Recruit and hire "out“ staff and faculty.  View all human characteristics as a positive form of diversity that is desired in a multicultural setting.  Always question job applicants about their ability to work with diverse students, staff, and faculty.

13. Do not refer all LGBT, Hindu, political, vegetarian, etc.  issues to LGBT, Hindu, political, vegetarian, etc. students, staff, and faculty.  Do not assume their only expertise is related to these issues. Check with individuals about their willingness to consult on these issues with other students, staff, and faculty.

14. View the creation of this safe environment as your responsibility, not the responsibility of individual persons who happen to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, transsexual, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, a vegan, a member of the green party, Latino, etc.  Always waiting for them to speak, challenge, or act, adds an extra level of responsibility to someone who is already dealing with oppression on many levels.