The LGBT Student Movement History (adding to previous stub)

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The LGBT Student Movement started in and around the late 1960's while civil rights activism began to evolve. In 1968 in the town of Ithaca, New York a group of gay rights activist formed a group know as Student Homophile League (SHL). This group included lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and other supporters. Many members were not originally from New York, but instead were students of Cornell University at this location. The diversity and variety of demographics in New York attributed to this pioneer student organization including members of similar proactive ideas. This was one of the early student movements related to LGBT rights and activism. Cornell students played an active role in spreading and distributing knowledge about gay liberation. Despite this, the overall view of these gay liberation student organizations received minimal attention from contemporary LGBT historians.[1] This oversight stems from the idea that the organizations were founded with haste as a result of the riots. Others historians argue that this group gives to much credit to groups that disagree with some of the basic principles of activist of LGBT organizations. [2] LGBT student organizations today have started to involve research to improve the understanding of basic activism ideas. Using historical research as a source to identify and differentiate successful approaches. The identities of student activists and their involvement tends to shape the different organizations across campuses. [3]

Louisiana Student Movements

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Louisiana State University, the flagship University of Louisiana, has progressively increased the awareness of LGBT organizations throughout campus. Spectrum was an organization that began in 1977 by and for LSU students as the Gay and Lesbian Student Association. Originally students involved did not feel particularly accepted so in turn held their meetings at off campus locations.[4] In 1999 a group of students felt unhappy with the mainly private nature of the LGBT movement so they formed the Spectrum Alliance. This became the public activism group that now holds over 100 members on LSU's campus. [5] In the fall of 2014 LSU also added a program that allows students to minor in LGBT studies. It consists of an 18 hour curriculum pinpointing social sciences created by Dr. Elaine M. Maccio who teaches in social work - where the minor is also housed. The new found program allows students who desire to obtain a better understanding of LGBT ideals and activism now have the opportunity to do so for course credit.[6]

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[1]Launching LGBT Minor [2] LSU Organizations

References

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