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
