Making Respect Visible: LGBTQ resources, history and culture at Ohio U

Editor’s Note: This story was originally published in TNPs spring print.

As June approaches, Pride is beginning to flourish in Athens. From drag shows to pride flags hanging from apartment windows, it seems like the vibrancy of the LGBTQ+ community is visible everywhere you look. It is reflected in the stickers on students’ laptops or pins on their bags–little bits of queer self-expression permeate the culture of Athens. 

For example, for the past two Octobers, Donkey Coffee has hosted an art show celebrating LGBT history month. The show has featured a variety of artistic mediums, LGBT themes, and LGBT artists.

Similarly to Donkey, numerous places on campus are generally recognized as LGBT friendly and affirming places. Brenen’s Coffee Cafe flies a pride flag outside, Import House has a trans flag on their dressing room door, and Tony’s Tavern has a trans flag hanging in the window. Other shops, businesses, and even churches can be seen expressing support for the LGBTQ+ community in Athens.

However, the queer culture on Ohio U’s campus goes far beyond pride memorabilia sold in shops up and down Court Street. The university carries a rich history of LGBTQ+ activism, and it currently offers a vast array of resources for students.

The LGBT Center, found in Baker Center room 348, is a space for students to congregate that affirms diversity and cultivates a safe and civil environment. At the entrance to the LGBT Center, there are countless fliers with information for clubs, organizations and resources. There are several clubs and community meet ups for specific communities that fall under the umbrella of the LGBTQ community and allyship. An example is Shades, a club that focuses on multicultural identities as well as gender and sexuality. There is also a group for trans students, a group called Lavender Menace for those who fall under the sapphic umbrella, and community gatherings for people who are asexual, aromantic and everything in between.

The LGBT Center also has several study rooms, along with a community art wall, a library containing several shelves of queer literature and a clothing exchange. The center’s purpose is to provide an environment for students to make new friends and be surrounded by open-minded and supportive people. 

For students uninterested or intimidated by clubs, the center offers a place to make friends and connect with the community. The LGBT Center’s website details the resources they offer so that students can become and define the queer culture on campus for themselves with the people they may feel most comfortable with.

Dr. Micah McCarey is the Ohio U LGBT Center Director. When asked about what genuine allyship looks like, McCarey called back to Ohio U’s recent “Make Respect Visible” campaign, discussing active, intersectional allyship, as opposed to passive tolerance.

“It’s not enough to just call yourself an ally, you have to be actively doing things to support the LGBTQ community,” said McCarey. 

In discussion about the establishment of safe, community spaces for LGBTQ students, McCarey elaborated on the nuance of the concept of a “safe space.”

“The notion of a safe space creates some challenges in communities because they’re aspirational,” said McCarey. “It’s about trying to do better and better, but not expecting perfection. It's our intention to be as safe as possible, and that’s not just something you can put on a sticker. You have to be able to demonstrate that you’ve educated yourself through how you speak with people, and how you serve people.”

McCarey also described the importance of the LGBT Center within the context of community, sharing that the center is available for more than just resources or needing help with a specific problem. “It’s truly to enhance your life, to give you more friendships and to help you learn about people with different backgrounds,” said McCarey.

Cassie Badgett, a student who works at the LGBT Center, shared, “the center has allowed me to be more comfortable with my identity. I learned more about myself by working here. Being here has helped build my confidence and know that it’s all right, no matter what. So, it’s been really great, being here, working here and just coming to hang out.”

A significant upcoming event for LGBTQ students is Pride Graduation, a celebration of LGBTQ graduating students on Monday, April 24. Students can register at the LGBT Center and find a rainbow tassel, a stole, and a pin from the Alumni Association to spruce up their caps and gowns.

Badgett shared their experience at last year’s Pride Graduation. “It was a very heartwarming event because everyone was so supportive and loving. It was such a great celebration of everyone’s accomplishments, I loved it so much. I highly recommend anyone in the queer community come, either to support others or to graduate and experience that,” Badgett said.

One place where people are doing advocacy work is Student Senate, which has an LGBTQIA+ Affairs Commission. The positions of commissioner, vice commissioner, and senator provide a stable position of relative authority on campus from year to year, ensuring that some people in leadership positions are looking out for LGBTQ+ students on campus.

Like all Ohio U students, LGBTQ+ students have access to Ohio U’s counseling and psychological services to pursue mental wellness. Ohio U’s LGBT Center has access to a resource through the LGBT center called GLOW. GLOW is a drop-in support space that meets via Microsoft Teams during the academic year. It does not require an appointment or commitment and focuses on open dialogue about navigating life as an LGBTQ student.

Since the 1970s, the LGBTQ+ community has found a home at Ohio U through various student-organized organizations. In 1972, the Gay and Lesbian Association (now referred to as Spectrum Plus) was formed, and sexual orientation was added to the university’s non-discrimination policy in 1980. 

In 1997, an activism group called Swarm of Dykes was formed, emphasizing confrontation to promote tangible social change through education. In 1998, the LGBT Center was established, followed by numerous other organizations of allies and sub-communities within the LGBTQ community.

Another important organization for LGBTQ+ history in Athens is the United Campus Ministry (UCM) located on college street. Before the LGBT Center was organized, UCM was a community space for LGBTQ+ students. The organization continues their advocacy work today. 

Great strides have been taken in the last several decades to promote safety and inclusivity for LGBTQ+ people in the City of Athens. However, according to Human Rights Watch and the ACLU, legislation restricting transgender healthcare and queer education are proposed across the country. In the wake of this political climate, the importance of preserving the safety and liberty of LGBTQ+ students is becoming vital to the conversation about safety culture on campus. 

Historically, when minority groups were excluded from mainstream spaces and culture, they carved out their own communities and fought fiercely to maintain them. With increased awareness and acceptance, LGBTQ+ culture has been largely adopted into the mainstream.

This can be observed through the tendency of businesses and corporations to market themselves as allies during pride month, because it is now profitable for them to do so. 

McCarey discussed the importance of remembering that the fight for the right to exist is not over simply because of a cultural shift toward tolerance. Performative allyship that is withheld when it is no longer profitable pulls focus from larger systemic and legislative strides toward equality. McCarey noted that genuine allyship and activism on campus are as vital today as they have been in the past to promote the safety and rights of LGBTQ students.