LGBTQ series presents: Students, Sodomy, and the State: LGBT Campus Struggles in the 1970s
Photo by Becca Schwartz
The second lecture of the fall LGBTQ speaker series, “Students, Sodomy, and the State: LGBT Campus Struggles in the 1970s” was held in the University Commons Oct. 13.
This fall marks forty years since the first LGBT student group gained official recognition, and the VCU Humanities Research Center is celebrating this milestone with the LGBTQ fall speaker series.
“At a critical juncture in the history of student activism, gay and lesbian rights and the rise of the new right, VCU’s Gay Alliance of students challenged the university’s refusal to recognize it as a student group,” said San Francisco University history professor Marc Stein. “The Gay Alliance of Students vs. Matthews decided by the fourth circuit court in October 1976 was one of at least a dozen cases from around the country in which gay and lesbian student groups took their universities’ to court in the 1970s.”
VCU professor Bee Coston who teaches GSWS201: Intro to LGBT Studies was one of those in attendance.
“It is important to have a yearlong dialogue of LGBT issues and learn our history and I hope this is just the start,” Coston said. “It’s important to know what made VCU how it is today.”
The next lecture a part of the fall speaker series will be held on October 27th at 6 p.m. at the Siegel Center.
“A Conversation with Billie Jean King” will feature tennis star and LGBT advocate Billy Jean King, who will be talking about her journey across the past several decades toward equality as well as inclusion in society and sports.
Freshman Kelly Mullin, a member of the LGBT community, plans on attending all of the lectures and panels a part of the fall speaker series.
“As a freshman I’m pretty excited to be learning about VCU LGBTQ community’s rich history though this speaker series,” Mullin said. “I think this series is an amazing opportunity for us students to learn about our school.”
For a list of all LGBTQIA student groups, visit http://www.omsa.vcu.edu/lgbt/faqs/. For general VCU LGBTQIA- related inquiries, students should contact Paris Prince, senior LGBTQ equity officer, at pprince2@vcu.edu or (804)828-3957.
Annie Gallo, Contributing Writer
