Sage Advice for Campus GLBT Organization President?

[BohemianEcstasy]

Hey, all!

I know I'm still relatively new and I probably haven't graduated to that point at which one can post a new thread without being looked down upon, but I've already done one, and this one is far more relevant, so I'm posting it, darnit.

I need advice, if you have any to give. What would you say to a recently elected co-chair of a conservative, ELCA Lutheran college's Straight and Gay Alliance? It's pretty random, but I figured that the politically aware people of literotica's GLBTQA community could help me out a bit. What do y'all think we should attempt to do? What do you feel is important? What do you feel we should worry about? Any input is appreciated!

 

[BohemianEcstasy]

Shameless bump!

I try not to rely on bumping, but I really wanted to give this one another chance. *crosses fingers*

 

[DirkPryde]

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[Queersetti]

They didn't have anything like Gay/Straight Alliances in my college days, so I don't know if I can give you any pertinent advise, but the one thing that occurs to me is that an important priority for such a group would be to raise it's visibility as precisely what it is, not a "gay" group, but an alliance of people of all orientations. You ned to let people know that you are there, and that you are not willing to be invisible.

Is the group itself new, or just your stewardship?

 

[BohemianEcstasy]

The group has been around for about six years, but it really picked up steam my freshman year. Visability is a huge issue for us, and that is priority #1, being involved on campus and making people aware that, yes, there are gay people at our college! But, of course, the entire group isn't gay, so that's a point of awareness, as well.

As far as clarification of the question, the thesis format of it would probably be, "As members of the GLBTQA community, what do you feel is imporant for the president of a conservative college's GLBTQA group to keep in mind or focus on?" That probably doesn't help. :S Oh well. Thanks for what input I've gotten!

 

[fsumusic1981]

Well, I think you should advance LGBT rights. How to do that? Show that LGBT's are normal people, just with a different sexuality. If people have never known a black person, they may be afraid of them. Same with knowing someone who is gay, lesbian, or transgendered. So get involved with your school and don't stick to strictly LGBT issues. Make it known who you are.

Work closely with other progressive organizations.

Work with other organizations and student government in regular school issues... it may be a bad example, but maybe something like: how much money to the athletic department? where to put that new parking garage?

But do all this with one goal in mind. To let people who may be "homophobes" get to know you, but not as an LGBT, but rather as a person. That might do more to advance your cause than anything else you can do.

A good project directly related to LGBT rights would be to find out if you are protected by a school's discrimination policy. If you aren't, make that your cause. It's local and a great way to start.

Good luck.

-Peace

 

[Ms_Lilith]

Ensure that your group promotes acceptance and is embraced as HUMANS, not sinners. I'm wary of religious groups for this, so my basic thing is that I would want any group working with a faith to publicly state that that faith doesn't think homosexuality is a sin. If that religious group couldn't do that, then I wouldn't be part of the association.

*shrug*

Just my thing, though.

 

[BohemianEcstasy]

You guys are awesome--I knew you'd pull through! Fsumusic, Queersetti, Vixenshe, you all had great ideas. Ironically enough, we have been working with the faith issue somewhat over the last two years (more two years ago than last year, but I digress). We'll keep plugging away at that, especially with the ELCA decision coming down in 2005. And we're working on the anti-discrimination policy this year, as well...which is a long process, because the rich alumni don't like us. But we'll keep at it. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen!

 

[fsumusic1981]

I just thought of another thing... do you live near a big city? If you do, get in touch with the local ACLU affiliate, or maybe a chapter of another progressive legal organization, like the National Lawyers Guild (nlg.org). Maybe a few of you could help out with some of their legal work. I'm sure you wouldn't be writing briefs, presenting cases to appeals courts, or interviewing clients, but I am sure than those organizations would be grateful to someone who could help out around their offices.

Just a thought.

Oh yeah? Do you have a campus newspaper there? It'd be a good idea to try to get positive media. Local TV stations, too. You could always give out food to the homeless of something, in coalition with other groups. Then make sure you get a quote in the paper, just so people know that a LGBT group was there doing it.

-Peace

 

[BohemianEcstasy]

Awesome ideas. We have ties with the campus newspaper, because one of the section editors is a member (and, somehow, we've had that tie for about three years...it's been convenient). But getting into the wider community is an awesome idea, and I hadn't considered the law aspect; Lord knows we should.

 

[tasskitty]

hope this helps

Hi,

Being in the Big 10 and living in the un-believeablely unopen to new ideas midwest I did find Purdue's GBLT club on campus and I'll like it to give you if nothing else more contacts.. The biggest problem they have here on camput is funding and then the alumni and then all the ultr religious freaks that are dead set aginst even admitting that if you are GBLT that your human and not some kind of mutant freak or child molester or some dumb ass thing.. I got off on a rant sorry

anyway I wish you great success and don't stop fighting and being active

http://expert.ics.purdue.edu/~triangle/calendar.html

Tass