Most importantly, the mentors have been available to answer questions, share their own experiences, and suggest reading information or videos that might help the mentees with coming out to self, family and friends. Mentors commit to training and ongoing supervision out of a desire to be helpful to others in their communities. Coming out as a gay, lesbian, bi or transgendered individual is often a confusing, lonely and emotionally challenging process. The Mentoring Program provides empathic peer mentors for students facing these issues. These mentors have grown through their own coming out experiences and are secure with their own sexual orientation.
Mentors seek to help make the coming out process an empowering, positive experience.
Further, mentors serve as role models and also provide resource information to guide the mentee in the coming out process. The diverse background of the men and women who volunteer their time for this program allows for more personable identification and accessible information than in a professional counseling environment. Discussions between mentors and mentees remain confidential within the confines of the mentoring program.