Longwood University
Longwood University
Author's note: For the majority of this exhibit and those connecting I used articles from Longwood's long-running newspaper the Rotunda.
Located in Farmville, Virginia inside of Prince Edward County, Virginia
Longwood University was founded in 1839 as an All Female Seminary School
Has a long history of Lesbianism, mostly shrouded in Secrecy and Sororities
Hate Rears Its Ugly Head
During the 80s there was great fear and uncertainty about how the Aids virus was transmitted kissing even holding hands were considered possible causes.
The Aids Busters came to Longwood University in the mid-80s after the Aids Epidemic started to come to the spotlight even in the smallest of towns. The small-minded and scared members of these communities took out their fears on the suspects they saw in the news...the homosexual community.
After much speculation, the male-homosexual community was blamed for the outbreak do to the overwhelming number of gays succumbing to the disease.
There was great outrage towards the gay community and organizations like AIDS Busters started popping up everywhere, even schools in the middle of the country were being targeted by Evangelist groups seeking to stop the homosexual community from existing.
Longwood was even more susceptible to these Evangelist groups because Liberty University is only one town over. Liberty is famous for having as its founder Jerry Falwell, a large figure head in the anti-homosexual movements of the day.
The Start of the Revolution
On November 16, 1982, a story broke on Longwood University's campus about a young man by the pseudonym Walt to protect his identity. The story was on the front cover of the Rotunda newspaper. The story was of Walt trying to put together what he called the Longwood Discreet Gay Society. Walt was a practicing bisexual. The general lack of acceptance at Longwood made him realize that there needed to be a support system for the LGBTQ students. Here are some quotes from the newspaper article:
- “At first it was just verbal abuse, people yelling faggot from their window or in the hall. My suitemate wouldn't let me use the phone, which was in my name but in his room. He didn't even pay the bill...I had to pay it. Later they wrote faggot on the door in red magic marker. The thought my roommate (who is straight) was homosexual and started hassling him with cat calls—faggot, faggot.”
- "I went to Dr. Cox (head of Longwood's Counseling Service) because I was worried about a nervous breakdown. He and myself were hoping that incidents would die down after fall break...and they did for half a week. The Wednesday after fall break some people started screaming, 'faggot', I've heard, 'you're a goddamned faggot.' They started kicking on the door to my room. They threatened violence. Later that night, I was in my room alone when I heard my suitemate and apparently some of his friends yelling taunts in the bathroom such as, 'gay rights' or 'sexual preference, sexual preference...oh let me suck that juicy cock' or 'oh bend over and let me drive' and all the while someone was in the background singing America the Beautiful. I felt like going to Captain Stanford and saying 'Sir, I think you should know that one of your ROTC cadets was participating in a homosexual orgy in my bathroom.' I put up with a lot of crap. Anyway, I left my room because I was worried about them getting violent."
These events were prosecuted by the administration. According to Walt, he talked to the administration and they were interested in how many homosexuals/bisexuals he knew of or estimated were on campus. He estimated 13% of the campus was LGBTQ. The administration read this article and responded as such:
- "Last week's front page article, based on an interview with a male homosexual student, could be interpreted to mean that the administration is "100 percent supportive" of a gay movement on campus. Such an interpretation would be incorrect. The student interviewed had met earlier with President Greenwood, the Vice President for student Affairs, and me. At the meeting the student made one request. He wanted us to print an item in the "Campus Bulletin" announcing the date and time for a meeting of gay students. We indicated that we would print the item only if his name appeared with it, since that is the policy for all announcements. He did not want his name used; we therefore refused to carry the announcement. He then asked about forming an organization, and we indicated he had the legal right to do so, but had to follow the procedures, rules, and regulations that applied to the formation of any campus organization. We did not encourage him to start a group; we informed him of his legal right to do so. This should not be interpreted as "being supportive." The article also quotes him as saying that such an organization "could pull in as many as 325 participants or about 13 percent of Longwood's population." When we met with the student, we specifically asked him how many homosexuals he thought were at Longwood. He replied that he knew of only three or four, but assumed there were more. We do not know how he arrived at the 325 figure a day later. While there are many other disturbing aspects to the article, I especially wanted to clarify these misleading statements."
- ~H. Donald Winkler
- Director of Public Affairs
- Longwood College
- "Last week's front page article, based on an interview with a male homosexual student, could be interpreted to mean that the administration is "100 percent supportive" of a gay movement on campus. Such an interpretation would be incorrect. The student interviewed had met earlier with President Greenwood, the Vice President for student Affairs, and me. At the meeting the student made one request. He wanted us to print an item in the "Campus Bulletin" announcing the date and time for a meeting of gay students. We indicated that we would print the item only if his name appeared with it, since that is the policy for all announcements. He did not want his name used; we therefore refused to carry the announcement. He then asked about forming an organization, and we indicated he had the legal right to do so, but had to follow the procedures, rules, and regulations that applied to the formation of any campus organization. We did not encourage him to start a group; we informed him of his legal right to do so. This should not be interpreted as "being supportive." The article also quotes him as saying that such an organization "could pull in as many as 325 participants or about 13 percent of Longwood's population." When we met with the student, we specifically asked him how many homosexuals he thought were at Longwood. He replied that he knew of only three or four, but assumed there were more. We do not know how he arrived at the 325 figure a day later. While there are many other disturbing aspects to the article, I especially wanted to clarify these misleading statements."
In other words the college administration was not as supportive as they came off as to Walt.
For full article:::Media:LDGS_with_Responses.doc
There was a break in LGBTQ news at Longwood University for two year. In 1984 an article came out about what happened to Walt and what the LGBT community was facing . Apparently he was discovered and harassed unmercifully by students and faculty alike and "forced" back into the closet, and subsequently left Longwood for a more accepting school. The LGBTQ community as a consequence of the discrimination that faced Walt, forced them to retreat "back into the closet".
The Start of the Alliance
The gay movement was underway at Longwood College. More and more students were coming to Longwood both gay and straight. This increase in population over the years allowed more and more diversity to come into Longwood. This diversity also pushed more and more out of state students into the system increasing the political, racial, sexual, and religious diversity of the campus.
There emerged a larger push for a group to be formed that dealt with sexual minority youth in the Early 90s. At that time a group of anonymous students met with an unknown student counselor who was an ally to the LGBTQIA community here at Longwood College to form an Alliance. This Alliance was sort of a secret society. There were zero records, no advertisements, and no talking about it. In order to be admitted you had to be interviewed by this counselor who had to okay said person for the second step. The second step involved a series of interviews with the president of the Alliance. After the president okayed said person they were told where to meet for the support group. The reason for these precautions were to keep gay-bashers from infiltrating the organization and/or outing its members.
There was also another entity on campus that had a more activist approach. Their name was Unity. Unity was the organization that gave a face to the LGBTQIA community on Longwood's Campus. These entities did not join forces and become one until the late 90s, where they continue to be one organization to this day.
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A Testimony from the 1990s
The following is information I (the author) received in a phone interview with a Mr. Clyde Berry, Class of 1998.
Clyde Berry was reportedly the face of Unity and the LGBTQIA community in the mid to late 90s. Clyde came to Longwood College in 1994. During this time period, according Clyde, Unity was not a large force on campus, in fact there were few people who even knew Unity existed. According to Clyde, there was a suicide attempt by someone he knew and who happened to be gay. Clyde was an Residential Adviser (RA) at the time and found this guy, and had to call the police and the notify the administration. Clyde tried to explain to the administration that this guy, who he did not name, was not OUT to his family and reporting the reasons behind his suicide attempt would prove to be more detrimental than helpful. The administration refused to listen to Clyde and the young man was Outed to his family by the administration and at the same time disowned by them. These events brought Clyde's name to the front of the line and was deemed, "that gay RA." According to Clyde, the fact that he was a Theatre Major did not help his case either because like today many men in theatre are considered homosexual.
Being the most well know homosexual on campus, Unity asked Clyde for his assistance by being the official face of Unity for the whole campus to see. He accepted and began helping Unity organize programming and occasionally stir up trouble for the administration.
A Second Testimony
The following testimony is from an email between myself and a Mr. Brian Crutchfield, Class of 1992.
"Me and my friends were the "secret" society and it did work the way you have it outlined above for the reasons you give. However, we called ourselves Unity. This happened in 1991/1992. We were secret at the time, but also activists--posting flyers, articles etc. I can't tell you how many times I walked behind frat boys and re-posted flyers they ripped down. Things may have changed after we left. Almost the entire group graduated in the same year. I do have the name of the "unknown student counselor". Her first name was Marcia, will have to look up her last name. She was a Psychologist in the Counseling Center. She left the college after Unity's first year. She alleged that she was forced by the faculty to leave because she was an out lesbian and because she supported our group. That is when Edna Allen-Blesoe became our faculty adviser."
Programming of Unity Alliance
Heterophobia
- What is Heterophobia?
Heterophobia was a program that started roughly 1996, when Clyde Berry entered Unity. This program was a skit of sorts that took all of the fears and stereotypes of homosexuals and reversed it to reflect the ignorance of these views of homosexuals.
Fearsome Foursome
- What is Fearsome Foursome?
Fearsome Foursome was started in the Spring of 1996 by Unity. This program involves a panel every of a Gay Male, Lesbian, Bisexual, and a Transgendered Person or an Ally. The panelists talk in front of a large group people and answer questions that they may have.
Annual Drag Show
- What is our Annual Drag Show?
Our Annual Drag Show was started in December of 2003 and it involved drag queens from the Norfolk area who performed for a nominal fee and they kept their tips. Today however the drag queens come from all over VA and are still paid a nominal fee, but their tips go to a local AIDS Hospice. Also this event always takes place on December 1st, World AIDS Awareness Day.
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Day of Silence
- What is the Day of Silence?
"Founded in 1996, the Day of Silence has become the largest single student-led action towards creating safer schools for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. From the first-ever Day of Silence at the University of Virginia in 1996, to the organizing efforts in over 8,000 middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities across the country in 2008, its textured history reflects its diversity in both numbers and reach."[1]
We as a Virginia School did not celebrate our first Day of Silence till April 21, 2004.
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National Coming Out Day
- What is National Coming Out Day?
"Every Oct. 11, thousands of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and allies celebrate National Coming Out Day. They hold workshops, speak-outs, rallies and other kinds of events all aimed at showing the public that GLBT people are everywhere." [2]
This event has happened every year since 1988, but Longwood did not start observing this until October 11, 2004.
Redemption Prom
- What is Redemption Prom?
Redemption Prom was established in 2007, and has been occurring every Spring since. Redemption Prom is a dance of sorts, that allows Longwood University students to come and dress and be with who ever they wish. This was set up to allow students whose high schools did not allow same sex relations or alternate gender identities to be recognized at school functions.
Redemption_Prom_1.jpg
Proud to Be Out Week
- What is Proud to Be Out Week?
Started in April of 2009, Proud to Be Out Week is a week long chain of events that educate and involve the Longwood and Prince Edward County, Virginia in LGBTQA related events.
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Trans Awareness Week
- What is Trans Awareness Week?
The first Trans Awareness Week started in November of 2009. The need for a Transgendered Educational Seminar was important because of the influx of transgendered individuals finally "coming out" on our campus.
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Safe Zone and Ally Training
- What is Safe Zone and Ally Training?
Safe Zone and Ally Training are programs set up by Unity Alliance to create hubs where LGBTQIA people may go and feel safe and have someone to talk with. These programs are especially important for educators and counselors at our school.
Random Advertisements By Unity Alliance
Primary Documents from The Rotunda Newspaper Retyped
Media:LDGS_with_Responses.doc
Media:Freedom_of_Choice_Supported.doc
Exhibit Pages
Prince Edward County, Virginia
This exhibit was created by Hunter Ellis, Historian of Unity Alliance at Longwood University. User Name Ktkangaroosjack. To contact please email at hunter.ellis@live.longwood.edu. <comments />
