Changes

'''October 28ᵗʰ28??, 1971:''' Daniel R. Pinello’s article “The homosexual at Williams: coming out”, where Dan came out as a gay male at Williams, was on the cover of The Williams Advocate. Also in this edition of the Advocate was an article “Gay Liberation: a profile”.

'''April 9ᵗʰ9??, 1976:''' The first organization on campus is created, WGSO, the Williams Gay Support Organization. WGSO’s call for new members in the Williams Record sparks heated debate and controversy, creating a flurry of articles in support and denouncing the new organization.

'''April 16ᵗʰ16??, 1976:''' Student stands on chair in Mission Park dining hall, actively denouncing the WGSO and the “Gay Support” platform.

'''December 6ᵗʰ6??, 1977:''' Williams College President Chandler opposes change to non-discrimination policy to include sexual orientation.

'''January 6ᵗʰ6??, 1978:''' Faculty rejects a College Council proposal to amend the anti-discrimination clause of Williams College to include sexual orientation. Debate ensues amongst students, faculty, and the president.

'''March 10ᵗʰ10??, 1978:''' First panel by gay activists on “Coming Out.”

'''April 14ᵗʰ14??, 1978:''' Gay rights supporters wear jeans on National Blue Jeans Day.

'''October 3ʳᵈ3??, 1978:''' WGSO becomes GPU, the Gay People’s Union, in order to create a broader presence on campus.

'''March 17ᵗʰ17??, 1981:''' “Coming Out” meeting held at Weston Language Center.

'''September 27ᵗʰ27??, 1983:''' GLU sponsors AIDS talk.

'''October 4ᵗʰ4??, 1983:''' Gaudino Forum on “Gay at the Movies, Gay at Williams.”

'''October 5ᵗʰ5??, 1983:''' The GPU establishes a new name, the GLU – Gay/Lesbian Union in order to avoid being stigmatized as an all-male organization. A new gay hotline is instated for students to talk about their sexuality.

'''April 23ʳᵈ23??, 1985:''' Controversy erupts over a student’s statement that the Berkshire Quad is a ghetto of the College’s “misfits and homosexuals.” As a result, a crowd of over 300 students, faculty, staff, and administrators rallied in a celebration of diversity. However, issues over student housing, marginalization, and diversity persist and disputes between the student and the [[Black Student Union]], GLU, and Berkshire Quad members continue.

'''November 9ᵗʰ9??, 1985:''' Defacement of GLU event poster.

'''March 4ᵗʰ4??, 1986:''' Open panel discussion on homosexual life at Williams. Over 100 students attend a conversation on coming out and counseling assistance.

'''April 15ᵗʰ15??, 1986:''' First annual Lesbian and Gay Awareness Day. The day features an information table, rally, documentary, and reception. The day focuses on acceptance, diversity, and presence of gay and lesbian life on campus. Over 150 people attend the rally.

'''February 24ᵗʰ24??, 1987:''' Students protest CIA’s discrimination in hiring as it recruits on campus. CIA responds in Record Article, citing that the CIA does not discriminate against any group, but that “it examines the whole person.”

'''May 5ᵗʰ5??, 1987:''' Second Annual rally on Lesbian and Gay Awareness Day.

'''October 13ᵗʰ13??, 1987:''' Disputes on whether Williams should allow the Marines to recruit on campus, considering their ban on homosexuals joining the Navy.

'''October 17ᵗʰ17??, 1987:''' Gay and Lesbian alumni organize to form first network. An organizational meeting and dinner on campus is held. The network is originally created to address a deficiency in alumni events, with its focus on children and spouses.

'''April 19ᵗʰ19??, 1988:''' First Gay awareness week. In the words of a BGLU student leader, “We wanted to challenge the campus to examine their homophobia. A week makes more of a coninuous confrontation, while a day is easily dismissed.” Events include a rally, men wearing skirts to class, and stickers proclaiming “Why Assume I’m Heterosexual?”

'''April 22ᶯᵈ22??, 1988:''' The Issue, a student-run newspaper at Williams, has a centerfold on sexuality, including interviews with Faculty and students.

'''November 29ᵗʰ29??, 1988:''' Acting Dean of the College, Joan Edwards, issues a letter notifying the Williams community of defacement to BGLU posters, signs, and notices in a display case, discouraging future hostile behavior. The vandalists remain anonymous.

'''April 5ᵗʰ–9ᵗʰ5??–9??, 1989:''' College Council sponsors the very first sexual awareness week to deal with issues of pregnancies, date rapes, and especially STDs.

'''February 13ʳᵈ13??, 1990:''' BGLU display case in Baxter is vandalized again.

'''April 13ʳᵈ13??, 1991:''' Gay Pride Week includes movice showings, lectures, poetry readings, and a BGLU Party in Currier Ballroom.

'''October 5ᵗʰ–11ᵗʰ5??–11??, 1992:''' BGLU celebrates National Coming Out Week with both confidential and public events.

'''April 11ᵗʰ–18ᵗʰ11??–18??, 1993:''' Queer Pride Week. Queer Bash, March on Washington, and other events.

'''October 7ᵗʰ7??, 1994:''' The Queer Straight Alliance is created “to fill the void between queers and straights at Williams and the greater community.” (The BGLU is still in existence)

'''November 28ᵗʰ28??, 2009:''' The word "Fag" is seen spray painted in the common room of Mills-Dennett 1. In response, members of the QSU and Women's Center stage a sit-in in Hardy House to protest and make 5 demands to the administration. These demands were:

* [http://queer.williams.edu/?page_id=36 Anything But Str8 In Athletics] – � a support group for LGBTQIA athletes. Completely confidential, the group meets every other week on the second floor of the MultiCultural Center (Jenness House) from 9-10 P. M. on Wednesdays

* The Dively Committee – Mike Dively, Class of ‘61, has endowed W-Talk - a support and discussion group on a fund for Queer programming. This generous gift, managed by the Dively Committee, has helped fund trainings for staff around the needs variety of transgender folk, drag showstopics pertaining to gender and sexuality, academic presentations, discussion forums, and queer theater performancesmeets alternating Wednesdays 9-10pm in Justin's Office.

* LGBT Advisory Committee – The LGBT Advisory Dively Committee was started by Stephen Collingsworth in 2002 as an informational conduit � Mike Dively, Class of �61, has endowed a fund for students, faculty and staffQueer programming. This group is chaired generous gift, managed by the Queer Life Coordinator and meets monthly Dively Committee, has helped fund trainings for lunch in Hardy House. The group is purposefully comprised staff around the needs of people across campus to make sure that a variety of voices are being heard. The committee also advises the Queer Life Coordinator and helps form suggestions for policy changes transgender folk, drag shows, academic presentations, discussion forums, and campus wide initiatives. If you are interested in joining the LGBT Advisory Committee contact justin (justin.adkins@williamsqueer theater performances.edu)

* LGBT Advisory Committee � The LGBT Advisory Committee was started by Stephen Collingsworth in 2002 as an informational conduit for students, faculty and staff. This group is chaired by the Queer Life Coordinator and meets monthly for lunch in Hardy House. The group is purposefully comprised of people across campus to make sure that a variety of voices are being heard. The committee also advises the Queer Life Coordinator and helps form suggestions for policy changes and campus wide initiatives. If you are interested in joining the LGBT Advisory Committee contact justin (justin.adkins@williams.edu) * [http://www.williamsbiglata.org/ Williams Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian and Transgendered Alumni (BiGLaTA)] – � an alumni network. Reasons given to join:

*#You gain access to an inner circle network of Williams alums — � great networking opportunity and access to jobs, housing, and more

*#Invitations to other schools' LGBT alumni group events — � a great way to connect with other LGBT people in your community

* [http://queer.williams.edu/ queer.williams.edu], a site that places all queer resources in one location. For any books in the library of the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center, any queer groups on campus, any random queer articles or news, plus more – � go an take a visit.