Texas A&M And The LGBT

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Texas A&M is an Agricultural and Mechanical in Texas. Of course Texas isnt exactly known for its LGBT acceptance but sometimes its Universities are. A little background knowledge, the Texas A&M mascot is the Aggies, so you know what some nicknames are.

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Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Aggies (GLBT Aggies) is an officially recognized students group at Texas A&M University. Originally known as Gay Student Services (GSS), the organization was officially recognized by Texas A&M University in 1985 after a legnthy court battle.

In the spring semester of 1976, a group of Texas A&M students organzied a gay group. In April of that year Michael Minton, Michael Garrett, and Sherri Skinner approached Joehn Koldus, the Texas A&M Vice President for Students Affairz, and requested limited recognition for an organization to gay issues. The students did not want full university recognition, which uncluded partial funding from students fees as well as official office space in the Student Programs Office, because several of their wished to be discreet about their sexual orientation. Instead, the group requested only meeting space on campus and the right to post notices on school bulletin boards and in the students newspaper. Koldus informed the students that the university did not offer limited recognition, and that to gain the access they had asked for the students must apply for full official status. What followed was a legnthy court battle "Gay Students Services v. Texas A&M University". At the conclusion of the litigation, GSS was recognized as an official students organization by legal decision in April 1985. Over the years, the name of the organization has evolved to be more inclusive. Today GLBT Aggies is an organization for queer people and straight allies alike, where anyone is welcome to regardless of how they identify.

GLBT Aggies is led by an inclusive executive council of democratically elected . Elections are held at the end of the academic year, with special elections held for vacant seats during the academic year as needed. Elected positions include: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, and Social Chair.GLBT Aggies also has a seat on the Graduate Student Council. This position is appointed by the elected officers of the GLBTA. These leaders make up the voting of the Executive Counsil, and it is their responsibility to establish programming, set policy, and guide the organization to better serve its . The organization also has up to two advisors who hold non-voting seats on the executive committee. The Advisors are selected by the elected leaders of GLBT Aggies each year.

General Meetings

GLBT Aggies hosts weekly meetings that provide an opportunity for to socialize, learn about the history and current issues affecting of the GLBT community, and organzize outreach efforts within the Bryan-College Station area.

BC]"gay? fine by me."

In April 2010, 2011, and 2012 on National Day of Silence GLBT Aggies partnered with Atticus Circle to bring the Fine By Me T-shirt project to the Texas A&M campus. Each year, GLBT Aggies was able to fundraise enough money to give away 1,000 T-shirts bearing the phrase "gay? fine by me." In 2012 GLBT Aggies were the first group to expand the Fine By Me project to include T-shirts bearing the phrases: "lesbian? fine by me." "bisexual? fine by me." and "transgender? fine by me."

Campus Outreach

GLBT Aggies has participated in many activities designed to engage and educate citizens of the broader Bryan-College Station area about the GLBT community. The organization has officially participated in MSC Open House, The BIg Event, and the Day of Silence. The organization has also occasioanlly set up a table in Academic PLaza, where they distribute information on activities.

Texas A&m is often percieved as an unwelcoming university to GLBT students, a challenge GLBT Aggies has faced since the initial struggle for GLBT recognition. In 2011 and 2012, it was ranked the least-LGBT friendly public university in the United States by the Priceton Review.

Currently there are few rules and regualtions in place for anti-discrimination for selected groups, the LGB community being one of them with the exclusion of the Trangender commuity.

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