User:Boone

Watauga County, North Carolina: We are the MountainQueers

Timeline 1929: first documented LGBT person relocates to Boone to work for Appalachian State Teachers College

March, 1970: Appalachian State University students Kathy Rogers and Sharon McDonald found Elizabeth Cady Stanton chapter of the Women’s Liberation Front

March 1970: Bisexual ASU professor commits suicide

December, 1970: NOW founder Betty Friedan speaks on ASU campus

January, 1971: The Appalachian newspaper publishes “Mastering the Draft – Homosexuality and the Draft”

1976: ASU Women’s Studies Program is founded

1976: Counseling Center begins homosexual support group

November, 1978: Donna Helseth and Susie Greene of the Counseling and Psychological Services present a program in Doughton Residence Hall about basic orientation of human sexuality

March, 1979: Appalachian Gay Awareness Association (AGAA) requested official recognition from ASU Student Government Association (SGA)

April, 1979: ASU SGA passes AGAA constitution

April, 1979: Stony Fork Baptist Association sends ASU petition to not recognize AGAA

May, 1979: 8% of ASU student population vote 3-to-1 in a Special Student Referendum against the recognition of AGAA

June, 1979: AGAA faculty adviser Bill Dunlap moves to Memphis, Tennessee

June, 1979: Chancellor Herbert Wey announces that ASU administration decided to approve AGAA

Fall, 1979: AGAA president Jeff Isenhour does not return to ASU

February, 1980: AGAA has recognition, Maggie McFadden as faculty adviser

January, 1981: AGAA has recognition, Maggie McFadden as faculty adviser

1980-1981: AGAA is not listed on ASU official club list found in Women’s Studies Program files

1981: Association for Appalachian Women organized

April, October, 1983: AGAA reorganizing with a covered dish supper; however, vandalism of posters announcing covered dish and formation of organization

[unknown month] 1984: Cris Williamson performs at ASU’s Women’s Week

October, 1984: NOW meeting at Jones House

1985: Elizabeth Barker attempts to revitalize AGAA, Cheryl Claassen as faculty adviser

April, 1986: ASU AIDS Task Force established by the UNC General Administration; Barbara Daye and Dr. Evan Ashby co-chair

September, 1986: Counseling Center advertizing Gay Support Group

May, 1987: Watauga County’s first reported AIDS case (a native returning home)

November, 1987: Student Affairs sponsors a series of lectures on Gay and Lesbian Awareness for a variety of audiences such as students and Resident Directors

December, 1987: ASU AIDS Task Force sponsors AIDS seminar

1988: ASU’s first reported HIV+ student

1988: AIDS Support group facilitated by Terry Taylor, Dr. Jack Taylor, and Dr. Pat Geiger for 6 years

December, 1988: Student Government Association approves condom dispensers in ASU public restrooms

January, 1989: Condom dispensers are placed in ASU public restrooms

1990: Feminist Collective organizes

February, 1990: PWAer Garland Lancaster speaks on campus

c. 1990: Sexual Awareness Group of Appalachian (SAGA) founded as support and education group

August, 1991: ASU professor dies of complications due to AIDS during paid medical leave

Fall, 1991: ASU's first Gay Studies course, IDS 3533 Gay Experience/Media Interpretations, is offered by Kim Duckett

February, 1991: Dr. Pat Geiger said ASU has about 20-25 HIV+ students

March, 1991: Boone Gay and Lesbian Coalition received a threatening phone call and stops meeting

May, 1991: Earliest known same sex commitment ceremony in Watauga County of Richard Huffine and Alfred Percy IV at the home of Jack and Terry Taylor after being refused by Daniel Boone Gardens

December, 1992: ASU Student Government Association (SGA) request that ASU include sexual orientation in the university discrimination policy

December, 1992: AIDS task force set up in Boone

January, 1993: ASU student Paul Dodson reports a gay-related assault; he drops out of school shortly afterwards

January, 1993: ASU faculty approves SGA resolution that ASU include sexual orientation in the university discrimination policy

February, 1993: AIDS Task Force set up office in First Baptist Church

February, 1993: John Thomas announces the addition of “sexual orientation” to the ASU’s equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policy

February, 1993: Counseling Center advertizing Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Group

1993: Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) of the High Country opens

October, 1993: SAGA renamed Bisexuals, Gays, and Lesbians Associated for Diversity (B-GLAD)

October, 1993: B-GLAD paints tunnel for National Coming Out Day

October, 1993: Anti-gay messages cover tunnels

February, 1994: B-GLAD requests office space in new student union as well as a paid advisor and mentor; Vice Chancellor Gregory Blimling denies B-GLAD’s request

c. 1995: Delta Love Delta sponsors fist Miss Gay Boone World pageant

October, 1995: B-GLAD paints tunnels for National Coming Out Day

October, 1995: ASU tunnel defaced with anti-gay messages

October, 1995: ASU faculty and community members present a “Speak Out” against hate crimes and intolerance

November, 1995: Full page ad in the Appalachian newspaper “your silence equals compliance. Speak out for respect”

November, 1995: ASU tunnel spray painted with anti-gay messages

December, 1995: World AIDS Day March and candlelight vigil

February, 1996: MASC Troupe organized to speak to local organizations and schools, lasts 2 years

February, 1996: Multicultural Center opens

1996: MCC pastor Cindy Long becomes ASU chaplain

October, 1996: B-GLAD paints tunnel for National Coming Out Day

October, 1996: ASU tunnel defaced with anti-gay messages

November, 1996: Names Quilt displayed in Boone Unitarian Universialist Fellowship

April, 1997: “Six Degrees of Separation” presented Dept. Of Theater and Dance in collaboration with the Charlotte Repertory Theater (which was defunded in Charlotte)

1997: Boone Gay Pride march

Fall, 1997: Barbara Campbell becomes Boone Unitarian Universialist Fellowship minister

October, 1997: B-GLAD paints tunnel for National Coming Out Day

October, 1997: ASU tunnel defaced with anti-gay messages

October, 1997: B-GLAD sponsors a drag show at Legends

February, 1998: B-GLAD adviser Mary Ballard reported threatening phone calls on answering machine

February, 1998: MASC sponsors Names Quilt at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

March, 1998: Drag Show at Legends; this becomes an bi-annual event

February, 1999: ASU NOW sponsors National Right to Marry Day mock wedding at the court house

February, 1999: First ‘Tunnel of Oppression’ [continues to present]

April, 1999: ASU NOW sponsors Day of Silence

October, 1999: B-GLAAD paints the tunnel for National Coming Out Day

October, 1999: ASU tunnel defaced with anti-gay messages

April, 2000: B-GLAAD sponsors “Rave 4 AIDS II’ at Rafters to benefit Mountain AIDS Support Council

1999-2000: ASU Club Council names B-GLAAD’s Drag Show “Most Creative Fundraiser”

October, 2000: Women’s Studies Program and B-GLAAD sponsors first annual “Queer Film Series”

November, 2000: Eggplant Faerie Players performed “Next Year in Sodom” at ASU

2000: Mountain AIDS Support Endowment organized

April, 2001: ASU play, “As Is” about AIDS

May, 2001: a Christian group sponsored an activity where individual Christians carried a rock to symbolize their sin. At the end of the week, they placed the rocks at the foot of a wooden cross that they'd put in the Sanford Mall. Local gay Christians had heard about this & decided to join it and painted their rocks with pink and rainbow colors to show that queers can be Christian too. An Appalachian columnist angrily wrote about it -- w/o fully understanding what was going on or talking to any of the gay participants.

October, 2001: Faculty Senate and SGA vote to severe ties to Liberty University after Jerry Falwell’s comments that homosexuals and feminists are the cause of the September 11th terrorist attacks

November, 2001: Chancellor Frank Borkowski decides to retain relationship with Liberty University

November, 2001: Jimmy Creech of Soulforce speaks on ASU campus

2002: ASU GLBT Taskforce organized

2002: MCC of the High Country leaves the denomination, reorganizes, and joins Christ’s Church United

January, 2003: Student Development Diversity Committee conducts a confidential Campus Climate Survey to assess ASU’s experiences related to race, creed, and sexuality

April, 2003: B-GLAAD sponsors a “Second Chance Prom”

April, 2003: Dept. Of Theatre and Dance produces “The Laramie Project” to benefit the Actors’ Fund

September, 2003: Out lesbian and NOW advisor Eva Hyatt wins UNC Board of Governors’ Award for Excellence

September, 2003: ASU AppCard long distance callers directed to gay men’s porn phone line

2003-2004: Watauga High School students attempt to organize a gay-straight alliance; Watauga County School Board says no

March, 2004: ASU Student Government Association (SGA) Sen. Amanda Zeddy introduced Resolution 037-012 requesting equal access to university soft benefits for domestic partners of faculty and staff

April, 2004: Watauga High School Day of Silence protested by three students who are suspended for offensive clothing and anti-Day of Silence adults picket school

April, 2004: Watuaga County School Board reinstates suspended students

Fall, 2004: Watauga High School’s Diversity Club organized by James Carp

August, 2004: Jill Ehnenn, Kim Hall and Ann K. found ASU LGBT Staff/Faculty Group

October 2004: NC Outings founded

2005: Out lesbian Cindy Long becomes president of Children’s Council Board of Directors

April, 2005: Watauga High School Day of Silence participants not allowed to advertize their activity on campus

April, 2005: First Watauga High School Day of Truth

July, 2005: First annual Boone Pride Dance

September 18, 2005: First (and only) “Gathering of the Queers”

September, 2005: B-GLAAD attends its first NC Pride March

October, 2005: boonepride.org reorganizes to act a hub of local information

October 11, 2005: Out lesbian wins Boone town council seat

2006: Out lesbian Cindy Long becomes president of Ram’s Rack Board of Directors

Spring 2006: Watauga High School’s Day of Silence is inclusive of all -isms and no problems reported

July, 2006: Boone Pride incorporates

September, 2006: LGBT teen group forms and continues for 6 months

September, 2006: LGBT parents group forms and continues for 1 year

Spring 2007: Student Government Association addresses single stall bathrooms issue

Spring 2007: High school senior drops out of school on the Day of Silence in part due to harassment

Fall 2007: ASU approves single stall bathrooms being labeled with a unisex symbol

Fall 2007: ASU student organization transACTION approved

January 2008?: BGLAAD renamed Sexuality and Gender Alliance

Spring 2008: Faculty Senate votes to add ‘gender identity and expression’ to EEO

Spring 2008: ASU Trans housing policy committee addresses trans students needs

April 2008: Watauga County superintendent Bobbie Short allows students absent on the Day of Silence and the Day of Truth to receive excused absences; silent students penalized as per the law

May 2008: ASU’s first Lavender Graduation with 12 graduates

August 2008: Gender identity and gender expression added to ASU's Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

October 2008: Grand Opening of ASU's LGBT Center

October 2008: Watauga High School principal approves GSA

March 2009: Town of Boone votes unanimously to add sexual orientation and gender identity to its Equal Employment Opportunity Statement and to resolve not to favor a General Assembly bill to hold a vote to create a constitutional amendment defining marriage as one man and one woman