Thirty-nine years ago, on June 27, 1969, a group of men rioted following a police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City. Dubbed the Stonewall Riots, this event is considered to be the beginning of the modern gay rights movement, and the month of June is traditionally noted as Gay Pride Month across the U.S.
Western Illinois University's Big Picture for 2008. Photo courtesy of Darcie Shinberger
Each year, to raise awareness of, and support for, the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered ( GLBT ) community and its allies, Western Illinois University's Committee on Sexual Orientation ( UCOSO ) gathers for The Big Picture event on the WIU-Macomb and WIU-Quad Cities campuses. This year's photo in Macomb was taken in April on the front steps of Sherman Hall.
'The point of taking the picture with our straight friends and family members is that it shows that gay individuals are a natural part of the larger community,' said Bill Thompson, UCOSO member and WIU Libraries professor.
In addition to the Big Picture, Western's student group, Unity, hosts GLBT Awareness Week every April, and the University also participates in National Coming Out Day in October; hosts GLBT-related discussions during the annual Campus Dialogues on Multicultural Issues Week; takes part in World AIDS Day in December; and recognizes the National Day of Silence held every April.
Western's first student organization dedicated to the support of the GLBT community was formed in the early 1970s. The first GLBT Awareness Week was in 1987 and was known at 'Gay and Lesbian Awareness Week.' During the 1970s through 1981, the organization was known as 'WIU Gay Activists Alliance;' in 1981, the organization changed its name to 'Open Door;' and, in 1994, the organization changed its name to Bisexuals, gays, lesbians and Friends Association ( BGLFA ) . In fall 2004, the group officially changed its name to Unity.
In 1987, Open Door literally followed their name by seeking administrative support of then President Ralph Wagoner. Student and faculty members asked Wagoner if he would add sexual orientation to the University policies that prohibit discrimination; this request was taken to Western's then-governance group, the Board of Governors Universities ( BGU ) , and in July 1989, the BGU policies on discrimination were revised to prohibit discrimination of students and employees on the basis of sexual orientation.
For the first time, in fall 1990, faculty members covered material and showed diversity-related films during freshmen orientation sessions. According to UCOSO history archives, the hostile reaction of the Western students to the portions of class content that addressed the difficulties faced by gay and lesbian students shocked the teachers. Many members of the faculty reported this level of overt homophobia to President Wagoner, who reacted by appointing the first members to the President's Task Force to End Homophobia. The Task Force met for the first time Dec. 11, 1990 and continues today as UCOSO.
While student and faculty and staff organizations host numerous activities to support Western's GLBT community, the University Libraries has established the largest named GLBT film collection in the state. The collection, which was established in fall 2006 as a result of a statewide grant and Unity donation, is available to college students and faculty from across the state. The collection consists of more than 250 films. A complete listing is available at www.wiu.edu/library, under 'Gay and Lesbian and Film.'
University Housing and Dining Services also works to ensure that students living in the residence halls on Western's Macomb campus embrace diversity initiatives. During the Spring 2008 semester, three Tanner Hall resident assistants were recognized for their creation of the 'Life-size Game of Life,' an interactive game that gave Tanner residents a glimpse of what members of the GLBT community faces in terms of discrimination and misunderstanding. The group also won the Excellence in Education Organization Award at the annual WIU 19th annual Excellence in Diversity Awards Reception.
Each year at Western, Unity and the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access sponsor 'Safe Space Training' to give faculty, staff and administrators the opportunity to identify themselves as allies to gay, lesbian, transgendered and bisexual students and colleagues. Students who see the Safe Space decal will know they are entering an environment where they can be free to share the issues they may be facing.
In addition, in July 2004 the University established itself as a leader in a program to reimburse benefits-eligible employees for a portion of the cost of purchasing health and dental coverage for same sex and opposite sex domestic partners and eligible dependent children of domestic partners. Since that time, the University has added group insurance benefits to same sex domestic partners through the State of Illinois Group Insurance Program.
Two years later, the University established a first-of-its-kind in the state of Illinois orientation for GLBT freshmen and new students. Students are introduced to GLBT faculty, staff and administrators, and also get to meet the Unity officers. The essential message, Thompson noted, is 'Western cares for, and respects, its GLBT community members.'
In keeping with Western's progressive leadership role with diversity and GLBT concerns among Illinois and universities nationwide, new inclusive language was added to Western's nondiscrimination policy effective May 2. Gender identity and gender expression are now included in all of Western Illinois University documents containing the university nondiscrimination policy.
'We have seen, and continue to see, a more open, accepting, and inclusive attitude of students, faculty, and staff toward gays, lesbians, and bisexuals. Events like The Big Picture help foster that attitude by opening the closet door and eroding the shame and secrecy that gay people have historically had to live under,' Thompson said. 'That's what I like about this event —it shows gay persons and their friends where we need to be, out in the open.'
For more information on Unity or UCOSO, visit www.wiu.edu/unity or www.wiu.edu/UCOSO.
