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WCU - LGBTQIA+ Archive of Jackson County

Western Carolinian column "Gay Student Organization Fighting For Recognition"

  • hl-westerncarolinianclipping-1985-11-07-vol50-no12-01.jpg
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  • This front-page article in the November 7, 1985 issue of the Western Carolinian reports on a meeting between representatives of Lavender Bridges, advisor and professor of Psychology, Joe Milner, and the Student Government Association, which Lavender Bridges would like to be officially recognized by. Lavender Bridges, an anonymously founded student organization open to all individuals, aimed to promote awareness of lesbian and gay lifestyle, provide lesbian and gay resources, and increase communication with all students and community members. The first organizational meeting took place October 10, 1985 and was officially recognized by the office of Student Development on December 13, 1985. The last mention of the group appeared in the October 10, 1991 issue of the Western Carolinian.
  • GAY STUDENT ORGANIZATION FIGHTING FOR RECOGNITION Two representatives and an advisor, Joe Milner, Professor of Psychology, of Lavender Bridges, met with members of the Student Government Association on Thursday, October 31, 1985. This semester's creation of Lavender Bridges, a support group for Gay men lesbians, has spawned a great dear! of controversy within the campus community. Lavender Bridges wants to be recognized as part of the University. This new organization wants no funding at this time. If LB did receive funding, the appropriations would be used for films, projects, guest speakers, stationery, and other items. In order to be recognized by the Student Government Association, a group must have fifteen members. Lavender Bridges has sixteen members. At this time, Lavender Bridges wishes not to provide a public roll, but they are prepared if the situation arises. This semester they have had only one meeting at which they presented their program. Lavender Bridges also has a constitution that will be submitted to clubs and organizations in the nextfew days. At the meeting, Carl Brickman, Cheif Justice of the Supreme Court stated that he feels that if SGA recognized Lavender Bridges, it would seem as if SGA supported or condoned homosexuality. For some, Lavender Bridges is a moral issue. Forothers, Lavender Bridges is an issue dealing with minorities,Gay menand lesbians. Alargesegmentofthe WCU community has expressed reservations about this group. Toba Dowell, a senior Social Work major voices her opinion: "Lavender Bridges should have never come out of the closet. They can support each privately without letting the campus know. Why do they need to be recognized? Th^y are already recognized as students by1 teachers, friends, and fellow students. Why advertise to everybody?" Chris Geis, a dorm sentor states: "The meeting was a postive step for SGA and Lavender Bridges because it opened some eyes to what Lavender Bridges is about. It dispelled myths we have about gay people, and specifically this group. I think that Lavendar Bridges has some good possibilities for this campus, but I don't think that this is time for them to come busting out. People on this campus are not prepared for the shock Lavender Bridges has given them, and the best way tor Lavender Bridges to succeed is for the group to prove itself worthy of being a community organization and then try to get the recognition of SGA. Up to this point that group, however worthy of its goals might be, has not done so. I also think that Lavender Bridges should promote itself positively so that people will find out what it really is-not just a group of queers." Helder Dorm Senator, Grace Ramirez stormed out of the meeting on moral grounds. Ramirez explains: "I feel that Lavender Bridges is a good organization as a support group. They wish to be recognized officially as a campus organization, but this action will not morally justify their cause." ', The Oversight Committee of Lavender Bridges was designed to support and encourage homosexuals who are not yet ready to come "out of the closet." Lavender Bridges is also open to families of these individuals, and others who wish to support Lavender Bridges. Lavender Bridges would like to meet with the university students in order to inform Western Carolina University that Lavender Bridges is a normal group that wishes to be recognized as being normal.

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LGBTQIA+ Archive of Jackson County

WCU LGBTQIA+ Archive partners with UNC-Asheville and the non-profit organization Blue Ridge Pride to create a regional archive of LGBTQ oral histories and ephemera.  ...

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