The University has made many efforts to provide a supportive and inclusive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students.
The first effort was made in 1971 with the establishment of the University's Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs, which is the oldest university office of its type in the country. It was originally called the Office of Human Sexuality, with the objective of combatting negative lesbian, gay and bisexual stereotypes and prejudices.
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| PAUL TALANIAN/Daily Nursing senior Kerri Johnson, interim Director for the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs Ken Blochowski and RC senior David Carter sit together yesterday in the LGBT office. |
The office has undergone various changes during its 26-year history. The first co-coordinator of the office, Jim Toy, said the overall climate surrounding the LGBT community at the University has changed greatly since the office was created.
"Overall, the University is much more accepting and supportive than they were in 1971," said Toy, who is currently a representative at the Office of Human Resources and Affirmative Action. "I hope that current students sense that support."
The Office of LGBT Affairs currently offers various services for students, staff and faculty, including a speaker's bureau, discussion support groups and workshops. The office has sponsored and organized various events, speakers and conferences featuring discussions of issues of importance to the LGBT community.
The office also is part of a "multicultural portfolio" of offices within the Division of Student Affairs, including the Office of Multi-Ethnic Student Affairs and the International Center.
There are a multitude of LGBT organizations and groups on campus that provide a social network and support for LGBT students and community members.
Students also can find support at University Counseling and Psychological Services, which has a staff trained specially to handle LGBT issues. University Hospital's Comprehensive Gender Program Services provides services to transgender people.
Seminars and workshops on finding LGBT-friendly workplaces are offered through Career Planning and Placement, and the Intergroup Relations program offers a "lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender-heterosexual" dialogue group.
"It's liberating and very exciting," Blochowski said. "The University of Michigan is one of the best college campuses in the country to engage in that learning and discovery."
Although the Office of LGBT Affairs offers programming and resources, many students said that a lack of adequate funding and a staff shortage makes programming and assistance difficult.
"There's so much money in the University," said LSA junior Neela Ghoshal, who is bisexual. "So much of it is going to ridiculous places."
Beth Harrison-Prado, a gay Social Work and sociology graduate student, said the University community needs to be do more to make LGBT students feel welcome on campus.
"It's not perfect, and discrimination still exists, but this university does make efforts to be welcoming to LGBT students," Harrison-Prado said. "The University does make some efforts, but I'd like to see some more made."
Prado said the University should more actively recruit openly LGBT professors, take anti-discrimination incidents more seriously, demonstrate firm stances on issues such as domestic violence and increase its support of hosting LGBT speakers and special events.
Although the University has made various attempts to provide a supportive atmosphere to students of all sexual orientations, some students said the administration must make greater efforts to support the LGBT community.
"I don't think that the administration is particularly supportive of the ( Office of LGBT Affairs)," said Stephen Rassi, a Social Work student who is gay. "I always had the impression that the University is a little embarrassed that they support something like that."
As a summer diversity facilitator for the Office of New Student Programs, Ghoshal said orientation programs did not allow enough time to deal with diversity issues, and often facilitators were "supposed to not get too radical."
In 1993, a provision was included in the bylaws of the University Board of Regents prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. But these changes were made after 19 years of struggle.
The regents approved the granting of employment benefits to domestic partners of University employees in 1994. In the same year, family housing for same-sex couples was approved.
Many LGBT students said the University should make a greater effort to recruit lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender staff and should create a gay and lesbian studies program or department.
"The University needs to have an atmosphere where (gay, lesbian and bisexual) faculty feel welcomed," Rassi said.
Rassi said that while the additions to the bylaws were important strides, "it was only a few years ago that the University did this."
Although many LGBT students have found the University and Ann Arbor to be a relatively welcoming environment, others have found it to be less progressive and accepting.
"I found the University to be surprisingly conservative," Rassi said.
Rassi said that as an undergraduate student at the University, he encountered many people had never met a gay person before.
Rassi said people on campus often are guilty of heterosexism by assuming that everyone on campus is heterosexual and therefore making homophobic or insensitive comments without realizing that they are being offensive.
LSA sophomore Jen Trudell, who is a lesbian, said a large part of the University community is unaware of issues facing LGBT students.
"I think a lot of people are kind of apathetic," Trudell said. "The community as a whole isn't supportive of activist things."
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| ADRIANA YUGOVICH/Daily University students Jill Gregory and Barbara Duperron dance together Saturday night at the Women's Formal dance in the Anderson Room of the Michigan Union. The event was organized specifically for women in the LGBT community. |
"I think that most people don't realize that we're here. It's a matter of ignorance," said Howard, who is gay. "The fact that I was in a community where I was able to see other gay people and interact, it made it a lot easier."
When he goes home, he feels "extremely uncomfortable. It's a whole different world. The fact that I was in a community where I was able to see other gay people and interact - it made it a lot easier."
At the University, Howard said he encountered both positive and negative responses.
"I tend to hang around people and go places where I know homosexuality is accepted," Howard said.
Some students said they are surprised by the level of visibility and presence the LGBT community has claimed on campus.
"I think it was very eye-opening, especially during Queer Visibility Week, that there was such a presence," said LSA first-year student PJ Shemtob. "As a heterosexual student, I understand that it's not a choice - that students wouldn't choose that lifestyle if they didn't have to. That's just who they are. They're human."
But, some students from small, conservative towns said Ann Arbor's openness is quite a contrast to their hometowns.
"It's a lot more liberal here than I'm used to," said LSA first-year student Lindsay Owens, who is from Bakersfield, Calif.
Students said that some people may not be supportive because they are afraid of what is unknown.
"To some people, it's a new thing that takes getting used to," said Elizabeth Davis, a Social Work student. "To other people, they're just blatantly homophobic."
Several students said heterosexism continues to be a problem at the University. Students said the University's administration should work to combat subtle discrimination.
An LSA first-year student, who wished to be identified by her initials, A.M., said Christianity has played a large role in the forming of her views of homosexuality.
"I was raised to believe that homosexuality is a sin," A.M. said. "God still loves them, but he hates the sin."
During the past year, the number of hate crimes against the LGBT community and its members rose sharply on college campuses. A recent study by the Triangle Foundation, a national gay rights group, reported a 34-percent climb in hate crimes on campuses nationwide.
"I've seen more incidents (of discrimination) this academic year than I've ever seen since I've been here," Blochowski said.
In the past school year, there have been various instances of visible discrimination. Most notably, Diag boards advertising National Coming Out Week were stolen and a rainbow sticker, an LGBT symbol, on Mason Hall was defaced. But there have also been a number of less-publicized, lower profile incidents, including the defacing of residence hall doors, the slashing of car tires, an assault on the Diag and numerous incidents of verbal harassment. The Office of LGBT Affairs is currently compiling statistics for this year.
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| LOUIS BROWN/Daily University students Sally Green and Kenneth Jones participate in activities at the Coming Out Day Festival on the Diag in October.
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"Discrimination and harassment are a part of our students' lives, but so is joy and happiness and excitement and pride," he said. "It's important for people to not think that being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender is about experiencing pain or harassment all of the time. It's also about learning and growing and fun."
Harrison-Prado said that while discrimination at the University is not as overt as at other places, "it continues to be a problem."
LSA senior Holly Myszenski said she has experienced discrimination and harassment because she is a lesbian.
"I've been spit on. I've been called names. You just make sure you look around on campus, just as any woman would, I guess," Myszenski said.
Blochowski said that although the University administration continues to speak out against discrimination and harassment, "you're still likely to experience some sort of discrimination or sexual harassment based on your sexual orientation. It can seem sort of hypocritical to be at an institution that supports you and still experience" discrimination.
"There are a lot of students like me who are very open, but there are many others who are closeted, who don't feel this is a safe place," she said. "To someone who is just beginning to question their sexual identity, this is a very scary place."
For many students, college is an opportunity to discover their identities.
"For many students, this is the first time they have away from an environment that can punish or harm them, and can learn about their sexual orientations," Blochowski said.
Harrison-Prado said there are areas in which the University can improve, such as ensuring that sufficient support systems exist.
"It's important that (students) ... be aware of LGBT issues, and be supportive, safe places for students," Harrison-Prado said.
Harrison-Prado said college environments generally tend to foster open-mindedness and a respect for diversity.
"I don't think we realize the diversity on this campus," said RC senior David Carter, who is gay.
Carter said LGBT students of color often face additional issues.
"I'm a gay person of color," Carter said. "That positions me differently than white men of the gay community."
Carter said it is important to consider the other issues that LGBT people face in addition to their sexuality, including race, class and age.
"I think it's slow, and most of the motivation comes from minorities within the gay community," Carter said. "It needs to also come from the gay community's most dominant members."
Blochowski said his office will continue to provide support amidst the continuing struggle.
"Building a truly multicultural and just society is an ongoing challenge that all of us who work in student affairs dedicate ourselves to everyday," Blochowski said.
| 'U' LGBT resources: |
| * Next year, resident advisers will be required to take Psychology 404, which deals with LGBT issues |
| * The University Counseling and Psychological Services offers support services, including various discussion and support groups |
| * A campus newsletter lists LGBT events |
03-20-98
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