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| contact-name = Gabrielle Joffe and Mike Semensi| contact-unix = gmj1; ms2

| established = 1976 (WGSOWilliams Gay Support Organization)

The GLTBQIAA organization on campus (formerly known as the "Eph Rainbow Alliance")MinCo-affiliated group of LGBTQ and allied students that organize events, speakers, and discussions that both promote awareness of queer issues and develop a queer and allied community. Especially known for putting on all-campus events during Coming Out Days (October) and Queer Pride Days (April) including [[Queer Bash]] parties every fall . '''Meetings are Tuesday nights at 8 P. M. in Hardy House. All are welcome, and spring, there are frequently snacks.''' Check out their [http://mcc.williams.edu/?page_id=38 website] under the QSU also brings guest speakers to campus to speak on Multicultural Center and their independent [http://queer and LGBT issues, hold more or less weekly discussions, do film screenings, and serve as a network of support .williams.edu website] for GLBTQIA studentsall things LGBTQ related on campus.

The current 2010�2011 board consists '''Queer Student Union''' is a group of Michael Semensi '12 (costudents 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-chair)large, Gabrielle Joffe '11 (co-chair)and larger Williams College community. Through our active presence and involvement on campus, the QSU hopes to confront homophobia, Veronica Rabelo '11 (Treasurer)biphobia, Kaybi DiAngelo '12 (Event Coordinator)transphobia, Jonathan Schmeling '12 (Publicity Coordinator)and heterosexism while seeking to understand and address how these interlink with sexism, Zach Evans '12 (Secretary)racism, and Carrie Tribble '13 (MinCo Rep)classism to perpetuate oppression.

Questions can be directed With these goals in mind the Queer Student Union endeavors to the secretaryserve a wide variety of functions socially, intellectually, at zre1. and politically:

Check out their [http://www.williams.edu/MCC/resources/qresources.php website] under the Multicultural Center ''Socially'', we organize to create common bonds through conversations, social events, and their independent [http://explorations of queer.williams.edu website] for all things LGBTQ related on campuscultures.

''Intellectually'', we serve as a source of information and provide 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 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 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. ==Mission StatementImportant Dates== *Sept. 23: Bisexuality Day*October: GLBT History Month*Oct. 11: National Coming Out Day*Oct. 19-23: National Ally Week*Nov. 20: Trans Day of Remembrance*Dec. 1: World AIDS day*April 15: Day of Silence*April: Queer Pride Days == Other LGBTQQIAA Student Resources == ===The Gender and Sexuality Resource Center=== 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.  GSRC resources and programs are facilitated by Justin Adkins, the assistant director of the Multicultural Center. His office is located on the second floor of Jenness House.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). ===Other Campus Resources=== 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. ===Academic and Alumni Support=== 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 Committee on 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:*#It's free!*#You gain access to an inner circle network of Williams alums great networking opportunity and access to jobs, housing, and more*#Invitations to BiGLaTA events across the country*#Invitations to BiGLaTA Reunions on campus*#Invitations to BiGLaTA events at your class reunions*#Invitations to other schools' LGBT alumni group events a great way to connect with other LGBT people in your community*#Great way to keep in touch with your classmates*#Great way to get to know people from other classes that you might never otherwise get to know*#Annual newsletters*#Keep in the loop with what's going on on campus*#Help improve the experience of current and future LGBT students*#Find out about BiGLaTA student internships ===Financial Support/Scholarships===

[http://web.williams.edu/go/careers/diversity_glbt.php The Queer Student Union is a group of Williams OCC] and its staff celebrate and support all Williams students who share a common interest in participating in and protecting the queer experience at Williams Collegealumni. We are advocates for the queer perspective provide resources and we work services to ensure that meet the presence career development and voices job search needs of queer students are recognized Williams diverse student and respected at Williamsalumni populations. We serve a political function, as activists working to transform To take full advantage of our greater community. We serve a social function, by creating common bonds through conversation, social events, and activism. We serve services please make an intellectual functionappointment to meet with Ron Gallagher, as a source of information OCC Assistant Director and a center of discourse on liaison to the queer experienceWilliams Multicultural Center. * [http://web.williams.edu/go/careers/alumni_sponsored. We actively challenge homophobiaphp#programs The Michael Dively '61 Internship Program], biphobiafounded by Michael Dively '61, transphobia and heterosexism. As queer provides financial assistance to students, we want in good standing who undertake an internship that serves to thoughtfully question our society’s understanding of gender and increase their awareness about their sexuality. We work collaboratively to create safe spaces on the Williams campus for our queer and LGBT-identified peers society's awareness about and we welcome all who reject traditional gender norms through their expression acceptance of sexuality and way of life. We are a resource for all members of our community people who are interested in exploring what it means to be queergay, lesbian, transgendered, or bisexual.

'''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.

'''March 10??, 1978:''' First panel by gay activists on �Coming "Coming Out.�"

'''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.

'''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.

'''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.�"

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

'''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.

'''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 fill the void between queers and straights at Williams and the greater community." (The BGLU is still in existence)

'''October 7??, 1994:''' The Queer Straight Alliance A homophobic and physically threatening letter is created �to fill submitted to the void between queers and straights at Williams Daily Advisor. The Dean's office notifies and denounces the incident in a letter to the greater William's community.� (The BGLU is still in existence)

'''October, 1994Spring 1999:''' A homophobic Bert Leatherman (openly gay and physically threatening letter is submitted to the Daily Advisor. The Dean�s office notifies and denounces the incident also a Bible study leader in a letter to the William�s communityWilliams Christian Fellowship) is elected College Council co-president.

'''May, 2009:''' Daniel R. Pinello is awarded the first �Outstanding "Outstanding Queer Alum Award� Award" at the 5th Annual Rainbow Graduation.

== Other LGBTQIAA Resources =='''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

* [http'''April 2012://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''' John Malcolm ’86 named Outstanding Queer Alum

*W-Talk - a support and discussion group on a variety '''April 2012:''' Performance artist Jiz Lee speaks at Williams as part of topics pertaining to gender the Dively Committee 25 anniversary and sexuality, meets alternating Wednesdays 9-10pm in Justin's Officedraws controversy.

* The '''April 2012:''' Dively Committee � 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.25th anniversary celebration

* 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 '''April 2013:''' Carina Vance Mafla ’99 named Outstanding 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)Alum

* [http'''May 2013://www.williamsbiglata.org/ Williams Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian and Transgendered Alumni (BiGLaTA)] � an alumni network. Reasons given to join:*#It's free!*#You gain access to an inner circle network of Williams alums � great networking opportunity and access to jobs, housing, and more*#Invitations to BiGLaTA events across the country*#Invitations to BiGLaTA Reunions on campus*#Invitations to BiGLaTA events at your class reunions*#Invitations to other schools' LGBT alumni group events � a great way to connect with other LGBT people in your community*#Great way to keep in touch with your classmates*#Great way to get to know people from other classes that you might never otherwise get to know*#Annual newsletters*#Keep in the loop with what's going on on campus*#Help improve Worlds of Wonder conference celebrating the experience queerness of childhood. Organized by Assistant Professor of current and future LGBT students*#Find out about BiGLaTA student internshipsHistory Anna Fishzon

* [http'''April 2014://queer.williams.edu/ queer.williams.edu], a site that places all queer resources ''' Angela Davis speaks 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 visitChapin Hall.