Columbia Queer Alliance

The Columbia Queer Alliance, the oldest LGBTQ student organization in the world, is the central Columbia University student organization that represents the lesbian, gay, transgender, and questioning student population. It's original name was the Student Homophile League (SHL).

Founder

Stephen J. Donaldson ((July 27, 1946 – July 18, 1996) ran away to New York City, where Columbia administrators told him that he would be allowed to register, "on condition that he undergo psychotherapy and not attempt to seduce other students." [1] His first year of college was difficult: he met no other gay students or faculty and had to move from a shared suite to a single room when his suitemates "told the college dean David Truman that they felt uncomfortable living with a homosexual".[1]

After his 1970 graduation from Columbia, Donaldson enlisted in the U.S. Navy. In 1971 the Navy announced its intention to release him by General Discharge on grounds of suspected homosexual involvement. In 1974-77, Donaldson was the Chair of the Student Governing Board. In July 18, 1996, Donaldson died of AIDS-related illness.

Student Homophile League

The original organization had twelve members, who fought with the Columbia administration for a year before their organization was officially recognized. Columbia refused to recognize the SHL because a public membership was required, and the only gay members willing to provide their names were Stephen Donaldson and James Millham. Eventually, Stephen Donaldson convinced Columbia student leaders to add their names to the list and Columbia was forced to officially charter the country’s first student gay rights group on April 19, 1967 [2]. The Spectator ran an editorial praising the chartering of the group and printed letters from students attacking and defending the decision. At this point, there was no apparent opposition from Columbia faculty or staff. The fledgling group was advised by the university chaplain, the Rev. John D. Cannon, who gave permission for them to hold meetings in his office and later let Donaldson hold office hours there.

Despite having "assured the administration that publicity would be kept to a minimum," Donaldson "launched an aggressive public information campaign about SHL and homosexuality", making sure it was covered on Columbia radio station WKCR, where he was a staff member, and sending out "at least three press releases to several large newspapers, wire services, and magazines with national and international distribution", although it received little coverage until gay rights supporter Murray Shumach saw the Spectator piece and wrote an article, headlined "Columbia Charters Homosexual Group", which appeared on the front page of the New York Times on May 3, 1967, followed by national and local media outlets all the way to the Gainesville Sun.

The article also quoted Dr. Harold E. Love, the chairman of Columbia's Committee on Student Organizations, who said there was no reason to deny the request once they had determined it was a "bona fide student organization." The article noted that "[f]unds were said to have been supplied for the organization by some Columbia alumni who were reported to have learned about it from advertisements in magazines for homosexuals" and that Donaldson said that the group "maintains liaison" with, but is not controlled by, outside homosexual groups." The alumnus supporter was "Foster Gunnison, the driving force behind the creation of the North American Conference of Homophile Organizations," with whom Donaldson had strategized about getting the organization approved. Gunnison "sent the administration a letter of support and made a cash contribution"

The publicity also led students at other universities to contact Donaldson about starting chapters, and Donaldson certified the Cornell Student Homophile League in 1968 and later the New York University chapter, headed by Rita Mae Brown[. Donaldson was "heavily involved throughout the rest of the 1960s not only as national leader of the Student Homophile League but also as an elected officer of the North American Conference of Homophile Organizations (NACHO) and of its Eastern Regional subsidiary". By 1971, there were an estimated 150 gay student groups at colleges and universities "often with official sanction and and with remarkable acceptance from fellow students".

Eventually various institutions such as Cornell University and New York University followed suit, causing a wave of gay and lesbian student activism the years leading up to the Stonewall Rebellion. [1]. SHL underwent many name changes, becoming Gay People at Columbia-Barnard at one point, to its present incarnation, Columbia Queer Alliance.

Events and Tradtions

• First Friday Dance
• Queer Sushi
• Queer Curry
• Queer Cupcakes
• Holiday Party
• Valentines Party

References

[1] David Eisenbach (2006). Gay Power: An American Revolution. New York, NY: Carroll & Graf, 51-79,260-262. ISBN 0-7867-1633-9. [2] Beemyn, Brett (2003). "The Silence Is Broken". Journal of the History of Sexuality 12: 205-223. Retrieved on 2008-03-16.