That's a really interesting question! Thanks for your feedback :) I'll do my best to answer — hopefully I'm interpreting your question the right way. While allies willing to offer a listening ear and shoulder for support are generally appreciated, there's something unique about sharing experiences and providing comfort within a group of people who know and have lived the life of someone with that specific identifier. That's not to say, of course, that everyone in a safe space must have all of the exact same identifiers; it simply means that a safe space for, say, LGBTQ+ people will be filled with those who identify as such. As allies, there is a time and place for us to step up and lend our support, but we should also be cognizant of when our presence isn't needed or wanted. I would think that the situation varies by each specific safe space and what expectations are set up, but in my own research and experience, this is what I've found to be true.

To begin, I want to note that I personally see the benefit of safe spaces and so will likely have a rather biased view of the situation. That said, I do think we're walking a bit of a fine line here. Each side of the argument has its own merits, and much of that depends on how we define a "safe space" and what such a space entails. If we're thinking of safe spaces as where students go to hold hands and coo over puppies while licking lollipops, then I understand the concern of infantilization. But on the other hand, what if safe spaces were a place where people could go to talk about similar experiences, similar pains that others with different identifiers might not understand that well? A place where the main themes were acceptance, understanding, and empathy? With the intent of understanding and helping each other through struggles, these spaces could be very beneficial.