Goals:
- Create a positive environment for the diversity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning people at Minnesota State University, Mankato by increasing community awareness and understanding of the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning people.
- Eliminate negative behaviors and attitudes toward bisexual, lesbian, transgender, gay, queer, and questioning people (also known as homophobia and heterosexism) through education and advocacy.
- Reduce the effects of alienation experienced by members of the queer, questioning, lesbian, bisexual, gay, and transgender community on campus by actively supporting the concept of Minnesota State University, Mankato as a multicultural community which welcomes and appreciates diversity.
Objectives:
- Develop effective educational resources and strategies for reducing heterosexism and homophobia, and for celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer cultures.
- Advocate for the needs of the entire transgender, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and queer community.
- Coordinate and communicate community-wide efforts on behalf of bisexual, transgender, queer, lesbian and gay people.
- Provide resources, information, and referrals for the MSU community on queer, bisexual, lesbian, transgender, gay, and questioning issues.
- Provide safe and accessible space for reporting of incidents of harassment and discrimination.
- Network with other organizations working to address the issues of lesbian, queer, gay, transgender, and bisexual people.
- Work in coalition with others to transform MSU into a supportive, multicultural community.
History:
The Alternative Lifestyles Office was founded in 1977, making it the second center of its kind on a college of university campus. The founder was Jim Chalgren, a graduate student in the Counseling and Student Personnel program. Jim went on to live a heroic life as an AIDS and LGBT activist. In Jim's memory, the Jim Chalgren Award was created. This award is given to one staff or faculty person who has acted as a visible and courageous supporter of the LGBT community and the LGBT center.
In 1994, the center's name was changed to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Center. The word Transgender was officially added to the center's name in the fall of 2002.
From 1977 to 2004, the LGBT Center was staffed with only a part-time graduate assistant and student volunteers. In the spring of 2003, Jess Crary led the fight for a full time director. Following a powerful sit-in at the President's office, the students were finally heard. Jessica Flatequal was hired as the full time coordinator in October 2004.
After many moves, the center has found a home as part of Student Leadership Development and Service Learning, in the Centennial Student Union.
