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 at the home of local LGBT allies after the couple is 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 after MASC desolves
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
