History

The University of Wisconsin-Stout Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Questioning (LGBTQ) Inclusivity Committee was established Fall 2005. This committee grew out of the University of Wisconsin System Inclusivity Initiative for LGBTQ People which held its first meeting on the UW-Madison campus in November 2003. For three years our campus sent representatives to these meetings and participated in the work of the System initiative by assessing the needs and the resources offered on our own campus. Our purpose is to provide support and increase strength of the UW System Inclusivity Initiative and to promote proactive inclusive change on the UW-Stout campus. Since our beginning we have . . .
     

Fall

2005
  • Recruited members to represent each college and school, Student Life Services, Student Services, Out at Stout, graduate and undergraduate students
  • Established goals and objectives
  • Held our first meeting on December 16, 2005 in HMEC 155.  Members present:  Jan Hare, Susan Wolfgram, Bonnie Nutt, Scott Griesbach, Jeanne Foley, Jon Cunningham, Matt Swanson, Erica Wurm, and Becky Busch.  Ann Marie Hoffman was a guest.
  
     

Spring

2006
  • Held meetings on January 27, March 24 and May 5.  Additional committee members were added.
  • Discussed issues about our relationship with the Diversity Education Committee, asking the university to develop a more comprehensive diversity model to include a wider group beyond cultural diversity, doing a campus climate study at UW-Stout, and reviewed inclusive models from some other campuses.
  • Met with the Diversity Education Committee, secured a representative on the Diversity Education Committee, and established a retreat date in the summer to set goals and plan activities for October, LGBT History Month.
  
     
Summer 2006
  • Held a retreat at Jan Hare's home on July 26.  Topics included UW-Stout's non-discrimination statement, planning LGBT History Month, and setting our strategic goals for 2006-07.
  
     

Fall

2006
  • Held our first annual LGBT History Month, complete with 7 events
  • Created a safe space magnet and mailed it to all faculty & staff asking them to hang them in a visible place in their office
  • Mailed the LGBT History Month information to all faculty & staff asking that they support the events and, perhaps, give extra credit for attending
  • Fought against the Wisconsin Marriage amendment to ban same-sex marriage
  
     

Spring

2007
  • Had the UW-Stout website updated with the new non-discrimination statement (to include gender identity)
  • Planned LGBT Awareness Month for October 2007
  • Submitted  a Domestic Partner Benefits Resolution to Faculty Senate and to the Senate of Academic Staff
  • Started developing an LGBTQ Inclusivity website
  
     
Summer 2007
  • Held our 2nd retreat at Jan Hare's home.  Topics included LGBT Awareness Month, setting goals for the year, discussed the committee composition, and began discussing the creation of a position to work with LGBTQ issues.
  
     

Fall

2007
  • Planned and conducted the 2nd annual LGBT Awareness Month, including a campus-wide march to Bowman Hall and address by Chancellor Sorensen
  • Met with the Dean of Students and the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Life Services about LGBTQ issues on campus
  • Researched inclusive models at other, similar school in the Midwest
  • Developed a proposal to add an LGBTQ Coordinator position to the campus staff
  
     

Spring

2008
  • Discussed gathering information to become part of the Pride Index
  • Submitted request and received for a .50 FTE for LGBTQ Coordinator position
  • Planned our 3rd annual LGBT Awareness month
  
     

Fall

2008
  • Planned and conducted the 3rd annual LGBT Awareness Month
  • Participated in the hiring of the  LGBTQ Coordinator
  • Launched LGBTQ Inclusivity Committee website
  • Completed and submitted information to the Pride Index
  
     

Spring

2009
  • Held our 3rd retreat at Jan Hare's home
  • Changing name to Pride Alliance
  
     
Fall 2009
  •  Housing: This is the first year that students have been able to say that they would like a roommate who is LGBTQ-friendly. Of the 1626 housing requests, 185 said yes. That is a "yes" response rate of 11.4% for new students and 16.7% for transfer students
  • LGBT Awareness Month
  • Pride Alliance Rainbow Scholarship: New scholarship through the University Foundation. Almost $1000 in donations and pledges in the first month.
  • Campus Climate Index: Attained Premier Status .
  • Inclusive Counseling Center Intake Forms: Led the revision efforts to make the UW-Stout Counseling Center's Intake Forms more inclusive for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.
  • Time Out: The first "Time Out" of the year was on October 29th. Thirty attendees; about half were new attendees.
  • Transgender Day of Remembrance: The annual Transgender Day of Remembrance is November 20th website "blacked out," with links to information and to the regular version of the website
  • Student Brochure: An LGBTQ Program brochure was placed in every residence hall student's welcome packet. 
  • Faculty/Staff Brochure: Julie Watts's document design class created 24 designs for a brochure for new faculty/staff. We are working with her and her students to finish the brochure. 
  • Leadership Institute: PA is working with Richard Tafalla and MFSN on the Leadership Institute that will happen in Summer 2010. 
  • PB Poorman Award: PA Worked with Richard Tafalla on process and are now focusing on the nominees. 
  • Bylaws:The Bylaws documents drafted.
  • LGBTQ Curriculum Inclusion Symposium: Faculty members attended the LGBT Curriculum Inclusion Symposium at UW-Parkside
  
     

Contact Information

PrideAlliance@uwstout.edu

 

Contact the LGBTQ Program Coordinator:

millerjul@uwstout.edu