A HBCU finally gets a their First LGBT Resource Center

This is bittersweet news. Bowie State University is the first HBCU to have a LGBT resource center on campus.

The grand opening was held in the center’s permanent home. The goal of the center is to provide information, counseling and a safe space for LGBT students. 

The grand opening was packed with 80 people attending.  Dr. Adrian Krishnasamy, Director of the Resource Center and Assistant Professor, Department of Communications, is the Faculty Administrator for the Bowie State Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA).  The event was attended by over six key Administrators.  

The school has been working on opening the center since 2007.  They experienced resistance in moving forward with key officials backing it. The issue was challenged also because the university lacked sufficient funding to support it.  "Opening a center like this at Bowie State is significant because HBCU’s usually don't want to address LGBT issues," says Dr. Adrian Krishnasamy.

Yes, they don't and that's why this news is bittersweet. Out of a 100+ HBCUs, this is the first and only one?

Unacceptable. I mean, I'm happy for Bowie and their students, but this is a shame. Maybe their efforts will motivate other schools to move forward.

What's Really Going on with Robert Champion's Case?

Robert was killed over 3 months ago and still no one is held accountable, set for trial or identified. So what's really going on with this case?

Here is some insight:

There are dozens of witnesses and possible suspects to be interviewed in Champion's killing, and most of them live outside the Orlando area. Some may not be cooperating.

Also, the case has garnered international attention for revealing the culture of hazing within the famous band, adding greater pressure to make sure there are no holes in the investigation.

Detectives were unable to interview all the witnesses who know what happened on the bus immediately after Champion died because his death wasn't ruled a homicide until a month after he collapsed. They have been trying to recreate the events by interviewing witnesses, often traveling to Tallahassee where FAMU is located.

"It's not like arriving at the scene of a homicide where there has been a shooting and you interview all the witnesses," said Danielle Tavernier, a spokeswoman for the State Attorney's Office. "They have to go out and coordinate with those people who were there that day."

Half a dozen detectives have interviewed or are in the process of interviewing 30 to 35 witnesses, said Ginette Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

"With this amount of people ... three months really isn't a lot of time with an active caseload that these detectives are carrying," Rodriguez said. "We're going to send this over to the state, and of course, they're going to want to make sure that they're presenting a good case. That is basically all it is."

Robert's family is concerned like many of us about this investigation. The longer it takes, the longer Robert's murderers walk free.

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Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/24/2659064/slain-drum-majors-kin-worried.html#storylink=cpy

President Obama appoints a Gay Man to the Advisory Board for Historically Black Colleges

President Obama plans to nominate Reverend George B. Walker, Jr. to the President's Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

George is an openly gay man and has worked in several organizations like: the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, American Constitution Society for Law and Policy, the HRC, and the Center for Community Change.

I hope George is chosen to the board. His views may help HBCUs deal with LGBT students.


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CNN talks with the Family of Robert Champion Jr.

To be honest, I am not pleased that his sexuality is NOT mentioned at all! This part of his life can't be ignored. I hope in future interviews, his family discusses his sexuality.

Spelman College receives National props for their 1st LGBT Summit for HBCUs

Dr. Beverly Guy-Shefthall helped create the summit

The media is taking notice of Spelman College's efforts in addressing the LGBT community. Ever since their summit, more schools and students are finally getting involved with these issues on their campus.

Black Voices News reports

The Chronicle of Higher Education, National Public Radio, BET, and Color Lines News for Action are among the media outlets that wrote about the significance of the conference in dealing with gay and lesbian issues on Black college campuses.

Many observers, HBCU alumni, and fellow students commended Spelman administration as well as young panelists for leading the charge.

"Spelman College is leading HBCUs in opening up conversations about the needs and concerns of LGBT students," according to a column published in The Chronicle of Higher Education.

"These types of conversations need to take place on HBCU campuses throughout the nation," it continued. "For too long, gay and lesbian issues have been ignored at HBCUs, leaving behind a significant percentage of African-American students who are looking for support as they pursue their educations and develop their personal identities."

Dr. Beverly Guy-Shefthall, who helped spearhead the inaugural event, said she was "pleased and a little pleasantly surprised by the national coverage." She said the forum is just one of many initiatives she hopes to see in 2011.

This was a great start. HBCUs can not ignore or act slowly to LGBT issues or the students. It is a high priority for these colleges to address all students. Spelman has set the example, now let the education and development begin.

Spelman College host their 1st LGBT Summit for HBCUs

Spelman College did the damn thing. They host the 1st LGBT summit at their university for HBCUs (Historic Black Colleges and Universities).

Here's the scoop:

The conference, titled “Facilitating Campus Climates of Pluralism, Inclusivity, and Progressive Change at HBCUs,” is the first of its kind. Participants came from nine HBCUs to attend several panel discussions throughout the day on campus about LGBT communities and ways to create a more open climate at school for those who have alternative lifestyles.

“We hope that [the summit] will provide some leadership for HBCUs to address LGBT issues as it relates to students, faculty and staff,” said Dr. Beverly Guy-Sheftall, the founding director of the Women’s Research and Resource Center at Spelman. “We think that the public awareness will put the issue on the radar.”

Black colleges as a whole have been slower to take on this public dialogue on lesbian and gay issues for a few reasons.

“Some [schools] were founded with religious affiliation,” Guy-Sheftall explained. In addition, the relative silence on the issue seems to mirror the Black community’s attitude as a whole. “Black colleges are not different from African-American communities in general.”

One recent issue related to LGBT issues on HBCU campuses stands out. In 2009, Morehouse College, one of the summit participants, established  a controversial dress code, which banned students at the all-male institution from wearing clothing “associated with women’s garb (dresses, tunics, purses, pumps, etc.)” on the campus.

Guy-Sheftall says she’s seen other campuses have issues surrounding dress code. “But the biggest issue we’re facing on our campuses is [the lack of] open public dialogue,” she said. The suicide last year by a gay Rutgers University student, who jumped off a bridge last September after his sexual encounter with another man was streamed live unbeknownst to him, made the project more urgent, she continued, and the hope is to tackle intolerance on HBCU campuses, before it reaches that point.

According to BET.com several HBCUs attended like: Bennett College of Women, Howard University, Clark Atlanta University, Southern University, North Carolina Central University, Philander Smith College, Morehouse College and Morgan State University.

And all of the HBCUs will receive a packet with training info, programming ideas and other resources. This was a great move for HBCUs. It is very important for them to support their LGBT students and staff.

Hat tip to Rod 2.0 for the info and heads up

Morehouse President responds to Vibe's 'Mean Girls' Article

A letter from the Morehouse President, Robert M. Franklin:

Dear Morehouse Community:

Next week, Vibe magazine, a hip-hop music and culture monthly, will publish in their October/November issue an article on Morehouse. I strongly disagree with the likely substance of this article and wanted to write to you directly to share my views.

The article, entitled, “The Mean Girls at Morehouse,” purports to examine the lives of some of our gay brothers as it relates to the enforcement of our appropriate attire policy we enacted a year and a half ago. It seems clear from the headline alone that the Vibe editorial team’s intent is to sensationalize and distort reality for the purpose of driving readership. The title of the article speaks volumes about a perspective that is very narrow and one that is, in all likelihood, offensive to our students whether gay or straight.

As president of this institution, as a Morehouse graduate and as a father, I am insulted by what is to be published. Addressing our young men as “girls” is deeply disturbing to me, no matter what the remainder of the article may say. Morehouse has for 140 years developed men—men who are equipped to live and contribute to an increasingly diverse, global and complex world.

Let me be clear. I believe in the freedom of the press and its critical role in examining all facets of our society to foster reasoned discourse and to promote understanding of topics both popular and unpopular. We will not always agree with what is written. I disagree, however, in journalism that attempts to malign and distort, rather than inform and enlighten.

I need not tell you that the black male is already faced with challenges in nearly every aspect of his life. Injustices abound. Families are broken. And our young black boys are failing to reachtheir potential in grade school and middle school at pandemic rates. And while the world grapples with complicated issues related to economic disparity, racism, sustainability, and diversity and tolerance, Morehouse stands in the breach, seeking answers to the pressing issues facing our young men, encouraging dialogue and expecting excellence.

The world is complex, and it is diverse. Morehouse reflects that same complexity and that same diversity. It is unfortunate that the Vibe article will heighten misunderstandings and advance or inform little.

In the end, no media outlet can shape who we are or in any way diminish our mission. But together we can encourage media outlets like Vibe to provide fair, well-researched and balanced journalism.

Finally, Morehouse will stand by its values. We will continue to set high standards and focus on the development of our young men. Thank you for standing with us.

Sincerely,

Robert M. Franklin
President

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