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The Spectrum Center is an office at the University of Michigan in
Ann Arbor Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie. Anne is sometimes used as a male name in th ...
that is dedicated to providing education, outreach, and advocacy for the
lesbian A lesbian is a homosexual woman.Zimmerman, p. 453. The word is also used for women in relation to their sexual identity or sexual behavior, regardless of sexual orientation, or as an adjective to characterize or associate nouns with fema ...
,
gay ''Gay'' is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'. While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late 1 ...
,
bisexual Bisexuality is a romantic or sexual attraction or behavior toward both males and females, or to more than one gender. It may also be defined to include romantic or sexual attraction to people regardless of their sex or gender identity, whic ...
, transgender,
queer ''Queer'' is an umbrella term for people who are not heterosexual or cisgender. Originally meaning or , ''queer'' came to be used pejoratively against those with same-sex desires or relationships in the late 19th century. Beginning in the lat ...
, and allied ( LGBTQA) community. Since the organizations' creation in 1971, the Spectrum Center's mission statement has been to "enrich the campus experience and develop students as individuals and as members of the LGBTQA community." The organization achieves this through student-centered education, outreach, advocacy and support.


History

Initially, on March 17, 1970, following the creation of the Detroit Gay Liberation Movement a few weeks earlier, both students and members of the larger community came together to initiate the University of Michigan chapter of the
Gay Liberation Front Gay Liberation Front (GLF) was the name of several gay liberation groups, the first of which was formed in New York City in 1969, immediately after the Stonewall riots. Similar organizations also formed in the UK and Canada. The GLF provided a ...
(GLF), seeking to battle stereotypes of gay people, fighting homophobic prejudice, and invalidating the mental illness model of homosexuality. After increased pressure from both the GLF and Michigan students, the University established a one-room office in September 1971, provided funding for 2 quarter-time positions to be filled by a lesbian and gay male and a small budget, to deal with gay and lesbian issues on campus. Jim Toy and Cindy Gair, a leader of the
Radical Lesbians Radical lesbianism is a lesbian movement that challenges the status quo of heterosexuality and mainstream feminism. It arose in part because mainstream feminism did not actively include or fight for lesbian rights. The movement was started by L ...
an offshoot of GLF, were hired to fill the available positions, titled Human Sexuality Advocates, at the University of Michigan's "Human Sexuality Office" (HSO). This achievement was monumental, in that it was officially the first staff office for queer students in an institution of higher learning in the United States. Following the establishment of the office, Jim and Cindy set up a system of peer-advisors to speak with the counseling office and aid in training them how to best counsel lesbian and gay individuals. By early 1973, the office had formed its first Speakers' Bureau, which consisted of gay and lesbian students and members from the community, and worked with other student groups, in order to educate students concerning gay and lesbian issues. By 1972, the office had made one class presentation; today the Spectrum Center provides eighty or more workshops to classes and seminars each year. In January 1977, the advocacy positions were upgraded to half-time positions and then again in 1987, when they received full-time appointments; both changes were primarily the result of advocacy for the office by students, staff, faculty, and religious leaders from the campus and Ann Arbor communities. During the 1980s, the University of Michigan administration finally agreed to allow identity terms in the office name and the Office of Human Sexuality became the University of Michigan "Lesbian & Gay Male Programs Office". In addition, the 1980s brought about increased outreach and services to bisexual people and people of color in support of their concerns. In 1994, the University administration reduced the two positions to one position, with positions for support staff being added over the years. During this time, Jim Toy stepped down and Ronnie Sanlo was hired as Interim Director. Within a month, Ronnie conducted a
CAS Cas may refer to: * Caș, a type of cheese made in Romania * ' (1886–) Czech magazine associated with Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk * '' Čas'' (19 April 1945–February 1948), the official, daily newspaper of the Democratic Party of Slovakia * ''CA ...
assessment for the office. As a vision for the office was being developed, the office added
bisexuality Bisexuality is a romantic or sexual attraction or behavior toward both males and females, or to more than one gender. It may also be defined to include romantic or sexual attraction to people regardless of their sex or gender identity, whic ...
to the title to acknowledge inclusion of more sexual minorities at the University, thus becoming the "Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual Programs Office". In 1995, the office began to learn more about transgender issues and began to include these issues in office education programs. In addition, the office expanded the speakers bureau to include allies, founded Lavender Graduation, and expanded the title of the office to include transgender individuals, becoming the "UM Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Affairs". In 1997, the central goals for the office were to increase transgender inclusion and education concerning transgender issues, increase education on campus in general, making the education coordinator position a full-time job and increased inclusion for students of color. During that period of time Frederic MacDonald-Dennis held the Interim Director position and continued the development and expansion of various programs. Thanks to MacDonald's work, the University created a gender-identity working group that focused on gaps in services for transgender individuals, made recommendations for inclusion, and began to examine the current climate on campus for LGBT people. In addition, Transforum was established by students as a group for alumni, students, & faculty of the University of Michigan that provides discussion, support, and resources and is committed to advancing the equal rights, health care access, and safety of transgender people. During this time, there was an increase in the number of participants, speaking engagements and training in the speakers bureau, as well as the development of Color Splash, an event for LGBT people of color and a Coming Out Group. In 2005, the office developed the Ally Training Program, which educates people how to be better allies to the LGBT community. In the fall of that year, Jackie Simpson took over as office Director and began the process to change the office's name to a more inclusive name: the "Spectrum Center". In 2011, the Spectrum Center celebrated this important milestone in its history. In February, the University of Michigan hosted the annual MBLGTACC conference- the largest queer college conference in the country. And in November, the Spectrum Center hosted an "alumni weekend", in which past and present students and friends of the Spectrum Center gathered together to celebrate the past and plan for the future. In recent years, the office has collaborated with University Housing to help them develop a
gender-neutral housing Gender neutrality (adjective form: gender-neutral), also known as gender-neutralism or the gender neutrality movement, is the idea that policies, language, and other social institutions ( social structures or gender roles) should avoid disting ...
policy. In addition, the office is supporting efforts by students for increased inclusion of gender-identity and an amendment to include " gender identity" and "
gender expression Gender expression, or gender presentation, is a person's behavior, mannerisms, interests, and appearance that are associated with gender, specifically with the categories of femininity or masculinity. This also includes gender roles. These cate ...
" in the University bylaws. The office continues to focus on concerns for civil rights, addressing concerns and the inclusion of students on campus and looks forward to continued progress and transformation of the office towards the betterment of the LGBT student's college and life experience.


Programs


Education & Training

In March 2005, the University of Michigan joined more than 140 other colleges and universities by implementing an Ally Training Program through the Spectrum Center. Ally Program participants attend a one-day, six-hour training designed to strengthen their ability to serve as allies to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer students, staff, and faculty at the University of Michigan. Spectrum also has a Speakers Bureau program where speakers share their experiences and growth, thereby promoting knowledge, compassion, and understanding about LGBTQ identities, issues and concerns.


Support

Spectrum Center runs two coming out programs: GPS, and closed coming out groups. The GPS Program provides students with Guidance to helpful information and resources, Perspective of a fellow student who has experience with coming out, and Support for coming out. Coming out groups are closed and confidential ten-week discussion and support groups which help participants explore a variety of coming-out issues. Spectrum also offers three support groups relating to gender identity: Partners of transfolk, Gender Explorers, and Mgender.


Outreach

Spectrum Center holds many events throughout the year to celebrate and recognize
National Coming Out Day National Coming Out Day (NCOD) is an annual LGBT awareness day observed on October 11, to support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people ( the LGBT community, sometimes also called the queer community) in " coming out of the closet". Fir ...
,
Transgender Day of Remembrance The Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR), also known as the International Transgender Day of Remembrance, has been observed annually (from its inception) on November 20 as a day to memorialize those who have been murdered as a result of transp ...
,
Celebrate Bisexuality Day Celebrate Bisexuality Day (also called Bisexual Pride Day, Bi Visibility Day, CBD, Bisexual Pride and Bi Visibility Day, and Bisexuality+ Day) is observed annually on September 23 to recognize and celebrate bisexual people, the bisexual communi ...
, and Pride week. Spectrum also organizes an annual "Lavender Graduation" which recognizes queer and allied graduates of the University of Michigan.


See also

* LGBT history in Michigan * List of LGBT rights organizations * University of Michigan *
List of LGBT community centers in the United States LGBT community centers are safe meeting places for all people. Prior to the gay liberation movement, there were no LGBT community centers in the United States. They became popular in the 1980s following activism to combat HIV/AIDS in the LGBT ...
* LGBT student centers


References


External links


Spectrum Center at University of Michigan

Queer @ the University of Michigan
blog {{LGBT in Michigan University of Michigan LGBT history in Michigan 1971 establishments in Michigan LGBT community centers in the United States LGBT in Michigan Student activity centers in the United States 1971 in LGBT history Organizations established in 1971