Spring Break
Speaker honors gay activism landmarks
'Queer history' important for change
NICK WARLICK
Issue date: 2/26/07 Section: News
The University's gay community has had many civil rights victories since the late 1960s, but it still has a way to go, a University official said Friday.
Michael Shutt, assistant dean of students, gave a presentation titled "The Queer History of the University of Georgia, 1969-Present," featuring research done by past and present students on the history of homosexuality at the University.
However, Shutt said, the research is not complete.
"There's a lot of information that's still not out there," he said.
He began by paying tribute to Barbara Gittings, a woman whose activism influenced the American Psychiatric Association to remove homosexuality as a mental disorder in 1973.
Shutt then described the gay rights movement in the Athens area, starting with the North American Conference of Homophile Organizations' 1969 request to the University for advice on a homosexual student bill of rights.
He detailed the University's refusal to allow a homosexual group to host a dance - citing that it would violate sodomy laws - and the fight to get the decision overturned in 1972.
Shutt also expressed the significance of events such as the formation of the Committee on Gay Education in the 1970s and the creation of the Safe Space Program in 2002.
These groups and their battles, he said, have helped define the way the University community views homosexuality.
But the fight to secure a safe environment continues, he said.
"Good things continue to happen," he said.
Shawna Scott, a second-year student and director of resources for the Lambda Alliance, said it is important to inform the community about such a history on campus.
"It's good to be able to see that progress has been made," she said.
Annette Hatton, retired managing editor of the Georgia Review, said the past is a tool for future action.
Shutt's presentation was part of the Institute for the Women's Studies' Friday Speaker Series.
Chris Cuomo, director of the institute, said the series features members of the University community and their research.
"(The speaking series) are our UGA folks presenting their cutting-edge research," she said.
Michael Shutt, assistant dean of students, gave a presentation titled "The Queer History of the University of Georgia, 1969-Present," featuring research done by past and present students on the history of homosexuality at the University.
However, Shutt said, the research is not complete.
"There's a lot of information that's still not out there," he said.
He began by paying tribute to Barbara Gittings, a woman whose activism influenced the American Psychiatric Association to remove homosexuality as a mental disorder in 1973.
Shutt then described the gay rights movement in the Athens area, starting with the North American Conference of Homophile Organizations' 1969 request to the University for advice on a homosexual student bill of rights.
He detailed the University's refusal to allow a homosexual group to host a dance - citing that it would violate sodomy laws - and the fight to get the decision overturned in 1972.
Shutt also expressed the significance of events such as the formation of the Committee on Gay Education in the 1970s and the creation of the Safe Space Program in 2002.
These groups and their battles, he said, have helped define the way the University community views homosexuality.
But the fight to secure a safe environment continues, he said.
"Good things continue to happen," he said.
Shawna Scott, a second-year student and director of resources for the Lambda Alliance, said it is important to inform the community about such a history on campus.
"It's good to be able to see that progress has been made," she said.
Annette Hatton, retired managing editor of the Georgia Review, said the past is a tool for future action.
Shutt's presentation was part of the Institute for the Women's Studies' Friday Speaker Series.
Chris Cuomo, director of the institute, said the series features members of the University community and their research.
"(The speaking series) are our UGA folks presenting their cutting-edge research," she said.
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