As a result of the rise of activism in the late 1960s including the Stonewall Riots in 1969, subjects related to LGBTQIA+ students began to move to the forefront of campus discussion. Starting back in the early 1970s, we’re able to trace a similar discourse at UW-Stout and how the campus became more inclusive for all students.
Perception of LGBTQIA+ Students in the 1970s (1974-1978)
While classes like Women’s Studies – which included a
section teaching about sexuality - were proposed and outlined in 1974, they are
much different than what we would see today in Stout’s Women and Gender Studies
program, especially in how they discuss the LGBTQIA+ community. In Lecture Notes from a Women's Studies course about female sexuality, there was a short mention of
“lesbianism” as “an issue we need to confront.” From a present-day perspective,
this statement is problematic. For example, “lesbianism” is a complicated term,
primarily because it implies the idea that being a lesbian is a chosen
lifestyle by echoing words like “veganism.” But more notably, discussing being
a lesbian as an “issue we need to confront” can paint it in a negative light. It
is important to note again that these lecture notes are from the 1970s, and the
terminology used is much different than what we would use today. However, these lecture
notes show that sexuality as an academic topic was being explored and discussed
within a course in the 1970s at UW-Stout, and it allows us to see how far these
discussions have evolved.
In January of 1978, optional “Gay Awareness Training” was promoted for Residence Advisors (RAs) at Stout. Similar trainings were facilitated across the UW System by Chuck Rhodes, who worked in housing at UW-Madison. It taught RAs things like “how to approach gay people,” “how to deal with floor negativeness toward homosexual floor members,” and the “importance of accepting gays as people with human rights.” It’s worth noting that while the word “gay” was used in this training, it was most likely referring to all students who were within the LGBTQIA+ community. The language used in the training is somewhat outdated, and it wasn’t required for RAs. Still, it was one of the first initiatives we see at Stout that was specifically intended to improve the lives of LGBTQIA+ students.
The Development of LGBTQIA+ Student Organizations (1980-1989)
This positivity towards the LGBTQIA+ community paved the way for one of the first of many LGBTQIA+ student organizations: Gay and Lesbian Awareness Development (G.L.A.D.). It was approved by the student senate on February 28th, 1978, after an overwhelming majority vote in support of the organization (14 to2). G.L.A.D. was created to be a safe space for LGBTQIA+ students to come together, and to provide resources and information for students curious about sexuality.
After G.L.A.D. opened the door for student organizations
supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, the name changed a few times in relatively
quick succession. In the March 8, 1980 edition of the Stoutonia (UW-Stout's
student run newspaper), it was announced that G.L.A.D. was changing their name
to the Gay Community at Stout (G.C.S.). The club remained G.C.S. until around
1983, at which time the name changed again to the Gay and Lesbian Community at
Stout (G.L.C.S.).
In the 90s a new organization emerged: The
10% Society.
Divided Views in the 1990s (1993-2003)
The 10% Society was incredibly active at Stout in the 90s
and early 2000s. While we’re not sure exactly when it was established, we see
mentions of the organization in Stout Student Association (SSA) meeting minutes
dating back as early as 1992. They were featured heavily in the Gay, Lesbian,and Bisexual Special Issue of the Stoutonia back in October of 1993, a paper
that gives us a bit of insight into views on the LGBTQIA+ community at Stout
during that time.
In an article highlighting the club specifically, they provided information for their hotline as well as a satirical infographic beneath the article on “dealing with gay folks.”
The Stoutonia issue presented generally positive views about the LGBTQIA+ community, providing education about common symbols associated with the community, and allowing LBGTQIA+ students a place to share their stories (most of the time anonymously). From daily life to the challenge of coming out, it paints a picture of what it was like to be LGBTQIA+ in the early 90s, both at Stout and out in the world.
Unfortunately, despite the visibility, it’s still undercut with a bit of discontent. Multiple students spoke out against the LGBTQIA+ community in surveys and interviews within the paper, and headlines like “Sexual preference cause for unease on Stout’s campus” show us that it wasn’t all supportive.
Violence against the LGBTQIA+ community was another subject
brought to the forefront of campus discussion in 1993. The reports resulted in
students speaking out in support of the LGBTQIA+ community and brought about a
huge push to end violence against the community in Stout and the surrounding
area. A forum was hosted at the student center to discuss campus safety, and an
anti-violence rally called “Take Back the Night” was held outside of the library.
It had a major impact on conversations surrounding violence against LGBTQIA+
people in the 90s and brought many of these issues into the light for those who
hadn’t been informed.
The 10% Society spoke a lot about this event and went on to
provide support to LGBTQIA+ students on campus until 2003; the same year that
the U.S. Supreme Court ruled anti-sodomy laws unconstitutional, making it legal
for same-sex couples to engage in consensual sexual relations. However, that
wasn’t the end of LGBTQIA+ organizations at Stout, and it certainly wasn’t the
end of the fight for equality.
Organizations and Views in the Present Day (2011-now)
A little less than a decade after the 10% Society’s
inactivity, the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) started, and it remains a
student organization today. Dating back to 2011, the GSA hosts a lot of events
intended to educate students about matters related to the LGBTQIA+ community
and provide support to those within it. In their early years, they sponsored a
lot of speakers as well as a few concerts.
In 2013, the Qube officially opened after searching for a
location since 2010. Today, they’re the main resource for LGBTQIA+ students at
Stout, providing information and education as well as a safe space for
conversation in the form of their office in Price Commons. The GSA and the Qube
work together to bring speakers, panels, and other educational events to Stout,
expanding people’s knowledge of the LGBTQIA+ community and reducing the stigma
around LGBTQIA+ people. They’ve also put on a lot of events for entertainment
and to provide a safe environment for LGBTQIA+ students to study or hang out.
As a school and as a society, we’ve come a long way since
the 70s, but we must acknowledge that we have a long way to go. At the end of
the day, the only thing we can do is continue pushing forward, continue
fighting for equality for all people, and continue supporting and creating safe
spaces for LGBTQIA+ students at Stout, as we have been since the 1970s. Because at the end of the day, love is love.
Here are a few online resources for you to learn more and
hear stories directly from people that connect to Stout’s LGBTQIA+ community:
LGBTQIA+ Oral History Collection
LGBTQIA+ History at Stout Digital Exhibit
Qube Event Posters
Stoutonia
Written and researched by Meghan Dincler (she/her/hers), UW-Stout Archives Student Worker
