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Part of LGBA looks for increase in members and respect
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LGBA looks for increase in members and respect .
LESLIE SIEGEL
Spectrum Staf!Writer
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Alliance (LGBA) was originated in the
early 70s to give lesbians, gays and
bisexuals a place to gather.
The LGBA's main goal is to
provide a comfortable environment
for lesbians and gays to come out
and find each other, according to
Lori Hartmann, an active member
for the past two years.
"We provide a safe place to study
or just hang out," she said.
"Gay liberation will only come
from a lot of people 'coming out,"'
she continued. "However, it is a
personal decision that people have
to make and I would never make
someone feel badly fornot 'coming
out"'
The organization also holds a
coffee house during the weeks between meetings. These take place
in Harriman Hall at 7 p.m. on Fridays. The coffee house is a social
gathering in a relaxed atmosphere
where lesbians and gays can go to
meet other people.
"Since the meetings conduct most
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Darlccn Gamer, a speaker from
the Philadelphia Commission of
Sexual Minorities, recently visited
UB to speak about life as a black
lesbian. Also, Renee McCoy, from
the National Coalition for black
lesbians, has spoken at UB about
problems such as the Civil Rights
Movement, the peace movement
and the gay movement
"In the past, the LGBA has been
cut off from other clubs, but this
year weare more friendly with other
organizations," Hartmann said.
"Since the relationships have gotten better and stronger, it will make
it easier for minority gays and les-
of the business, it is nice to have a
social activity," Hartmann said.
Speaking out for rights
Recent events the LGBA has cosponsored include National Coming Out Day, Gay Rights Anti-Discrimination Day and Queers on
Film, a lesbian/gay film festival.
Some events coming up (with
tentative dates) are Gay Cultural
A warcness Week and another Stop
the Hate Rail y. A speaker from the
Graduate Group of Feminist Studies is expected to speak about lesbians and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Thorn Kulsea,
the treasurer of LGBA, believes
these activities will help inform and
educate the public at the same time.
There is also a free library, located in the LGBA office, which is
open to the public and available for
discussion groups.
Although the LGBA does not
claim to be a counseling service,
they do have a support group called
Gay Adult Children of Alcoholics.
There is also a new lesbian discussion group meeting on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. in the LGBA office.
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Not a discriminatory club
The majority of the LGBA's
members arc white males.
"One reason minorities arc not
involved with us in large numbers
is because of institutionalized racism," said Susan Huber, another
active member.
"Problems that lesbian and gay
minorities face are harder to deal
with because they are more visible," Kulsea added.
1-L...-=:.==;;.....-_..,:
Lori Hartmann
bians to come out."
Major obstacles for members of
the LGBA are people who are
"homophobic." These are people
that for one reason or another have
a strong prejudice against lesbians
and gays.
Harassment on campus
TheLGBA has been harassed in
different ways on campus, including verbal abuse, crank phone calls,
graffiti, destruction of their flyers
on walls and having their office
egged. Many members claim to
have been insulted by faculty
members who have blatantly made
"jokes" in class about homosexuality.
"People have to be aware of when
they are being discriminatory,"
Hartmann stressed. "So many
people make jokes. They think that
because they are jokes it won 'thurt.
It docs."
Hartmann doesn't believe that
all students and administration are
against the LGBA. However, she
said, "Students and faculty that are
supporti vc are not as vocal as those
who are against us."
Kulsca's main objective would
be to stop the violence against the
LGBA.
"I would like gay, lesbian and
bisexual students at UB to be able
to be open on campus without being
threatened and harassed ," he said.
He added that he would like
people to find out what is going on
and realize they are ignoring certain problems.
"People don't wanttothink about
discrimination that others face," he
said. "People don't want to deal
with things that don't hun them."
Meetings for the club are held
every other Friday at 5 p.m. in the
LGBA office in Talbert. Although
approximately 50 to 60 people arc
currently involved with the club,
members expressed a need form ore
support.