History

While the LGBT Resource Center is fairly new to campus, there is a lot of history behind how we got here!

LGBT student organizations, such as the Gay Alliance, appeared at GVSU as early as the 1973 in order to offer support to students who needed it.  The next student organization to form was Ten Percent of You in 19??.  Frank Van Pelt served as its first President and Christine Yared was its faculty advisor. 

By the time Out ‘N’ About was created in 1997, only the constitution of Ten Percent of You remained.  Brian Miller, Brett Barnhart, Kyle ? and Rae Murdoch were founding members, with Christine Yared again as faculty advisor. Attendance at meetings, “ranged from five or six people to people standing along the walls.  They were coming from outside the college community in addition to Grand Valley students,” Barnhart commented.  Out ‘N’ About continues to be a strong voice in the GVSU community today.

Talk of an LGBT advocacy center began during the 2004-2005 academic year.  Milt Ford (Liberal Studies Faculty) began holding “LGBT Liaison” weekly hours in the Dean of Students office and in the Women’s Center.  A library of books related to LGBT resources appeared in the Counseling Center.

The following year, the weekly hours increased to daily in 233 Lake Ontario Hall, Milt Ford’s Liberal Studies Faculty office.  In 2006-2007, LGBT Resources appeared on the Student Services organizational chart, and daily hours continued.  Plans for a space within the Kirkhof renovations began to take shape, with the meeting of two advisory/strategic planning groups.  LGBT Resources also joined the Triangle Foundation’s consortium of GLBT Center Directors.

Currently, there are extended office hours and programming out of the LGBT Resource Center.  The first graduate assistant was appointed for the 2007-2008 academic year.  The center’s library was expanded as well as the mentorship program.

If you have any additional information about the history of LGBT advocacy at Grand Valley, please contact Milt Ford.

Adivisory Committee

The Advisory Committee of the LGBT Resource Center at Grand Valley has been put in place to ensure a smooth transition from now until the center officially opens in Fall 2008.  The following persons are current members of this committee, dedicated to promoting education and awareness.