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http://i41.tinypic.com/2j3punq.jpg
{{Group|
| meeting-place = Hardy House (Morely Circle)
| office = n/a
| contact-name = Gabrielle Joffe (gmj1) and Mike Semensi (ms2)
| contact-unix =
| wso-listserver = QSU
'''Meetings are Tuesday nights at 8 P. M. in Hardy House. All are welcome, and there are frequently snacks.'''
Check out their [http://mcc.williams.edu/?page_id=38 website] under the Multicultural Center and their independent [http://queer.williams.edu website] for all things LGBTQ related on campus.
==Mission Statement==
The '''The Queer Student Union''' is a group of students who share a common interest in cultivating, nurturing, and enriching the queer experience at Williams College. We are advocates for queer perspectives and we work to ensure that the presence and voices of queer students are recognized and respected by college administration, student body at -large, and larger WilliamsCollege community. Through our active presence and involvement on campus, the QSU hopes to confront homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, and heterosexism while seeking to understand and address how these interlink with sexism, racism, and classism to perpetuate oppression. With these goals in mind the Queer Student Union endeavors to serve a wide variety of functions socially, intellectually, and politically:
'''Socially,''' we organize to create common bonds through conversations, social events, and explorations of queer cultures. 'Intellectually''Intellectually,''' we serve as a source of information and provide and a safe medium for academic discourse, personal reflection, and artistic (re)presentation of queerness and our other intersecting identities. '''Politically,''' as activists, we work to transform our greater community while recognizing that our goals require a continued process of understanding and addressing all forms of oppression. Gender and sexuality are mobilized in different ways along with race, ethnicity, class, age, and ability in order to privilege some bodies, voices, and actions over others, effectively speaking and acting for others before they do so for themselves.
''Politically'', as activists, we work to transform our campus and greater community while recognizing that our goals require a continued process of understanding and addressing all forms of oppression, acknowledging gender and sexuality are mobilized in different ways along with race, ethnicity, class, age, and ability in order to privilege some bodies, voices, and actions over others. We work collaboratively with other organizations and institutions, both on and off the Williams College campus, to create safe as well as transformative spaces at Williams for our LGBTQQAAI peers and to serve as a resource for all members of our community who wish to question thoughtfully the ways in which genders and sexualities affect and inform our lives and society.
==Important Dates==
*April: Queer Pride Days
== Other LGBTQIAA LGBTQQIAA Student Resources ==
Located on the second floor of Jenness House, the GSRC is open 24 hours a day. There you can find: condoms, dental damns, sexual health information, magazines (such as GQ, Men's Health, Curve, Out, BiWomen's Monthly, The Advocate, Compete, Bitch and Ms.), and books about sexual health and gender. Hardy House also contains a library of books, magazines, and videos which focus on lesbian, bisexual, transgender and gay themes and issues.
Email: justin.adkins@williams.edu Website: [http://queer.williams.edu/ queer.williams.edu].
*[http://queer.williams.edu/?page_id=36 Anything But Str8 In Athletics] Recognizing that there are many in the Williams Athletic community who do not identify as straight, ABS began as a place for LGBTQ athletes to get together and discuss LGBTQ issues. All meetings are confidential and no one is required to identify their sexual orientation or gender identity, but everyone is invited to do so. Meetings: Alternating Wednesdays 9-10pm (2nd Floor Jenness House).
*'''W-Talk''' gives bi-sexual, queer, gender-queer students, and students who may be questioning their gender and /or sexuality a confidential, judgment-free space where they can meet other students, sit back and listen or discuss issues in their lives. Meetings: Alternating Wednesdays at 9-10pm (2nd Floor Jenness House).
There are several other resources which provide an outlet for private discussion regarding issues of personal concern. These resources include: free, professional counseling at the '''Williams College Health Center'''; the '''College Chaplains''', who are readily available to talk with interested students; '''Peer Health''', a student-run organization which offers confidential advice, health education, and referrals; and the '''Berkshire Stonewall Community Coalition''' committed to creating a safer and more inclusive locale.
*'''Keeping the Faith''' is an open discussion space for spiritually-oriented queers and their supporters to explore, affirm and seek to integrate the totality of who we are. Confidential drop-in meetings occur 8-9pm every Sunday in the Chaplain's office. People of all faith backgrounds and sexual orientations/gender identities are more than welcome to attend.
There are a good number of gay and lesbian faculty and staff at Williams. Many professors are open about their sexuality, helping to challenge misunderstandings and ignorance about queer people in general. A number of classes explore the subject of sexuality in depth and offer opportunities to learn about and explore LBGTQ history and issues in an academic setting. These classes appear in departments ranging from Political Science, to Comparative Literature, Religion, and Art History.
* ''The Dively Committeeon Human Sexuality and Diversity:'' Mike Dively, Class of '61, has endowed a fund for Queer programming. This generous gift, managed by the Dively Committee, has helped fund trainings for staff around the needs of transgender folk, drag shows, academic presentations, discussion forums, and queer theater performances.
* ''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:
*#Find out about BiGLaTA student internships
'''National Scholarships'''
*[http://www.pointfoundation.org/index10.html The Point Foundation] - LGBT Scholarship: The Point Foundation provides not only money for tuition, books room and board, but also has a leadership program to help LGBT scholars succeed. From their website: “We pay particular attention to those students who have lost the financial and social support of their families and/or communities as a result of revealing their sexual orientation or gender identity.â€
*[http://www.leaguefoundation.org/index.cfm League Foundation at AT&T LGBT Scholarship]: League offers $1500 scholarships and several special $2500 scholarships in honor of Matthew Shepherd and Laurel Hester. LEAGUE at AT&T Foundation Scholarships are available to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender U.S. high school seniors.*[http://www.liveoutloud.info/ Live Out Loud Scholarship: ] The Live Out Loud Foundation provides GLBT students positive role models in careers and education. For graduating seniors, or those who have put off college for one yeear from the New York Tri-State area, including New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey the Live Out Loud Foundation offers three $2500 scholarships.*[http://nlgja.org/education/aarons_scholarship.htm LGBT Journalism Scholarship: ] The National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Association Leroy F. Aarons Scholarship Award is for LGBT students pursuing a career in journalism.*[http://www.colage.org/ Colage LGBT Children Scholarship]: COLAGE (Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere) has four $1,000 scholarships to support the undergraduate studies of students with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender parents.*[http://www.apadivision44.org/honors/malyon-smith.php Malyon-Smith Scholarship Award for Graduate Psychology Students]: For graduate students studying psychology the Maylon-Smith scholarship annually awards up to $1000 graduate students in psychology to advance research in the psychology of sexual orientation and gender identity.*National Gay Pilot’s Association Scholarship[http: Planning on learning to fly? The National Gay Pilot’s Association wants to help//www.nwsa. Applicants must be pursuing a career as a professional pilot and must demonstrate that they make a contribution to the gay and lesbian communityorg/students/scholarships/lcguide.*php NWSA Lesbian Studies Scholarship]: If you are pursuing a career in Social Work and are interested in studying lesbians the National Association of Social Workers Lesbian Caucus Award can set you up with a $500 research award to continue your work.*[http://queerfoundation.org/documents/scholarship_fund.html Queer Foundation Scholarship Fund]: A yearly essay contest for queer youth could yield you $1000 towards college. And best of all, if your essay is selected, it could end up in high school English classes across the country as a way to promote acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer issues.*[http://www.lgbtheart.org/ LGBT Heart Scholarship for Health Professionals]: The LGBT HEART Scholarship Fund is for students in the health professions seeking to promote the health and well-being of the LGBT community. Scholarships are available on an annual basis to out LGBT students pursuing advanced (Masters level or higher) degrees in the health professions.
== History ==
'''October 28??, 1971:''' Daniel R. Pinello�s Pinell's article �The "The homosexual at Williams: coming out�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 "Gay Liberation: a profile�profile".
'''April 9??, 1976:''' The first organization on campus is created, WGSO, the Williams Gay Support Organization. WGSO�s 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 16??, 1976:''' Student stands on chair in Mission Park dining hall, actively denouncing the WGSO and the �Gay Support� "Gay Support" platform.
'''December 6??, 1977:''' Williams College President Chandler opposes change to non-discrimination policy to include sexual orientation.
'''January 6??, 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 10??, 1978:''' First panel by gay activists on �Coming "Coming Out.�"
'''April 14??, 1978:''' Gay rights supporters wear jeans on National Blue Jeans Day.
'''October 3??, 1978:''' WGSO becomes GPU, the Gay People�s People's Union, in order to create a broader presence on campus.
'''March 17??, 1981:''' �Coming Out� "Coming Out" meeting held at Weston Language Center.
'''September 27??, 1983:''' GLU sponsors AIDS talk.
'''October 4??, 1983:''' Gaudino Forum on �Gay "Gay at the Movies, Gay at Williams.�"
'''October 5??, 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 23??, 1985:''' Controversy erupts over a student�s student's statement that the Berkshire Quad is a ghetto of the College�s �misfits 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 9??, 1985:''' Defacement of GLU event poster.
'''1987:''' The GLU changes its name to the Williams Bisexual, Gay, and Lesbian Union (BGLU).
'''February 24??, 1987:''' Students protest CIA�s 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 "it examines the whole person.�"
'''May 5??, 1987:''' Second Annual rally on Lesbian and Gay Awareness Day.
'''December, 1987:''' First openly gay faculty member receives tenure.
'''April 19??, 1988:''' First Gay awareness week. In the words of a BGLU student leader, �We "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 "Why Assume I�m I'm Heterosexual?�"
'''April 22??, 1988:''' The Issue, a student-run newspaper at Williams, has a centerfold on sexuality, including interviews with Faculty and students.
'''November 29??, 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 5??�9-9??, 1989:''' College Council sponsors the very first sexual awareness week to deal with issues of pregnancies, date rapes, and especially STDs.
[[Image:KareemKhubchandani.jpg|right|thumbnail|Kareem Khubchandani became the second Queer Life Coordinator in the Fall of 2004]]
'''April 13??, 1991:''' Gay Pride Week includes movice showings, lectures, poetry readings, and a BGLU Party in Currier Ballroom.
'''November, 1991:''' BGLU chalks at homecoming, and distributes promotional pamphlets and stickers. This sparks a letter from a concerned parent MD denouncing the BGLU�s BGLU's presence, and considering the BGLU�s BGLU's organization one with possible chemical/ anatomical pathology.
'''October 5??�11,11??, 1992:''' BGLU celebrates National Coming Out Week with both confidential and public events.
'''February, 1993:''' Student gets expelled for impersonating a homosexual and calling two male students, pretending to be attracted to them. The calls were made in response to the two males harassment of various females on campus. Disputes result over whether this incident is homophobic, and the student pursues a civil suit against the college.
[[Image:Justinadkins.jpg|right|thumbnail|justin adkins became the third Queer Life Coordinator in the Fall of 2008]]
'''April 11??�18,18??, 1993:''' Queer Pride Week. Queer Bash, March on Washington, and other events.
'''October 7??, 1994:''' The Queer Straight Alliance is created �to "to fill the void between queers and straights at Williams and the greater community.� " (The BGLU is still in existence)
'''October, 1994:''' A homophobic and physically threatening letter is submitted to the Daily Advisor. The Dean�s Dean's office notifies and denounces the incident in a letter to the William�s William's community. '''Spring 1999:''' Bert Leatherman (openly gay and also a Bible study leader in the Williams Christian Fellowship) is elected College Council co-president.
'''January, 2000:''' Queer Life Coordinator, Stephen Collingsworth, is appointed to a permanent position in the MCC staff.
'''October, 2008:''' [http://mcc.williams.edu/?page_id=366 justin adkins] takes the Queer Life Coordinator position, replacing Kareem Khubchandani.
'''May, 2009:''' Daniel R. Pinello is awarded the first �Outstanding "Outstanding Queer Alum Award� Award" at the 5th Annual Rainbow Graduation.
'''November 28??, 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:
* The Queer Life Coordinator be promoted to a full-time position
'''Spring 2010''' Organized the 1st annual New England Small College Queer Summit
'''April 2010:''' Bert Leatherman ’00 named Outstanding Queer Alum
'''August 2010:''' GSRC moves into Jenness House.
'''August 2010:''' Gender inclusive housing begins for sophomores – seniors.
'''November 2010:''' Dan Savage speaks in Chapin Hall.
'''September 2010:''' Justin Adkins named Assistant Director of the Multicultural center, with a focus on gender, sexuality and activism (a full-time position).
'''April 2011:''' Dr. Lisa Capaldini ’78 named Outstanding Queer Alum
'''April 2012:''' John Malcolm ’86 named Outstanding Queer Alum
'''April 2012:''' Performance artist Jiz Lee speaks at Williams as part of the Dively Committee 25 anniversary and draws controversy.
'''April 2012:''' Dively Committee 25th anniversary celebration
'''April 2013:''' Carina Vance Mafla ’99 named Outstanding Queer Alum
'''May 2013:''' Worlds of Wonder conference celebrating the queerness of childhood. Organized by Assistant Professor of History Anna Fishzon
'''April 2014:''' Angela Davis speaks in Chapin Hall.
== LGBTQIAA Terminology ==
'''Cross-Hormonal Therapy:''' the use of testosterone (FTM) or estrogen (MTF) to biologically produce secondary physical characteristics.
'''Aromantic:''' Typically refers to a person who experiences little to no romantic attraction. Also known as "aro" for short.
'''Asexual:''' Typically refers to a person who experiences little to no sexual attraction. Also known as "ace" for short.
'''Aroace:''' Typically refers to a person who experiences little to no sexual attraction and little to no romantic attraction.