L G B T   C a m p u s   O r g a n i z i n g

pus means you can be fairly certain that

Inclusivity

your membership will change regularly.   

Before talking about inclusivity, it is

important to point out that there will

Once you have established who you are,

always be a need for certain folks to get

you can ask, "Is this who you would like

together in a safe space with other folks

to be?"  If you find that you are currently

who share their experience.  There may

all men on a coed campus you might ask,

be times when bisexual men and women,

"Is this how we want to be or would we

for instance, will want to discuss their

unique experiences.  There may be times

when gays, lesbians, and bisexuals of col 

There is often a need for specific

or will want to caucus.  There may be

groups of lgbt people to meet sepa 

times when women want to be in wom 

rately, in a safe space, to attend to

en s space.  There is often a need for spe 

issues that are specifically pertinent to

them as a group.

cific groups of lgbt people to meet sepa 

rately, in a safe space, to attend to issues

that are specifically pertinent to them as a

like to be a mixed gender group?"  If you

group.  It is important that this be sup 

are all undergraduate students on a cam 

ported.  This need for separate space is

pus with graduate and professional

not in contradiction with the goal of

schools, you might ask, "Do we want to

being inclusive; it is in fact one strategy

be an organization of undergrads or

to achieve inclusivity.  As lgbt people, we

should we include grad students, staff,

understand all too well what it feels like

faculty, etc.?"  If you are currently all

to be excluded and unwelcome.  There 

white you might ask, "Is this our intent

fore, at times some of us may feel hurt or

and if not what can we do to reach out to

threatened when parts of our community

people of color?"  If you are all seniors

want to meet separately.  This issue is

you might wonder, "Do we want to

often quite tricky for groups to negotiate.

recruit some first  and second year stu 

But as lgbt people we also understand the

dents so that there will be some continu 

need to be with others like us.  It is vital

ity for next year?" 

that when creating our own groups, we

attend to the special needs of other

It is important to think consciously about

groups with the same sensitivity as we

group membership and, if you find that

would expect from others when we want

you are not currently who you would like

our own space.  

to be, you need to develop a plan for

attracting new members.  It is important

Below is a list of some things to think

(though not always possible) to include

about.  Remember that each issue will

as many of your ideal group members

vary depending on who comprises your

right from the start so that they can be

group.  Additionally, it is important to

part of answering the other questions you

consider not only sheer numbers, but how

will need to consider.  If there are no peo 

each subgroup is represented within the

ple of color, then the needs you identify

power/decision making structure of the

may only reflect the experiences of white

group, what roles they play, and what

people.  If there are no faculty or staff, the

their interactions with others look like.

goals you choose will likely not reflect

Finally, it is crucial to recognize the

the concerns of these folks.  

importance of groups to be visible on

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