About Us

Purpose

Spectrum is committed to bringing together students of all sexes, genders, religions, ethnicities, races, and sexual orientation to affirm equality between people to work toward the full political and social enfranchisement of LGBTQ individuals.  We recognize the need to support and preserve the integrity of human rights for all and to cultivate action and alliances that will exemplify these ideals.  Spectrum will work toward these ends by providing social events where all students are welcome and empowering student voices through education outreach, awareness raising, service projects, and direct political action.

History

The Club was first recognized by the University on December 18, 1991 through the Office of Student Activities. Filing under the name GLSA [Gay & Lesbian Student Association ] in the following Spring Term April 1992 the group took a van to Washington D.C. to be apart of the March on Washington for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Equal Rights. Then in Winter Quarter 1993 it was changed to the GLBA [Gay Lesbian Bisexual Alliance] to include the bisexual community. changed to the ASD [Alliance for Sexual Diversity] in February 1998 after the law suit with USA and the State General Attorneys' office in April of the pervious year [1997]. The name was then changed back to include transgender in January of 2006 to the GLBTA  [Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Alliance] . In Spring 2007 the group was then divided due to personal issues into the GLBTA and GSA [Gay/Straight Alliance]. Two years later the GSA in 2009 changed their name to Q & A [Queers and Allies]. The GLBTA fell into inactive status from Fall 2008 to Summer 2010.GLBTA and Q & A then in Spring of 2011 redesigned the purpose of the clubs  forming Spectrum and Unity. Each club would function under the idea of Activism (Spectrum) and Community Support (Unity). In March of 2011 Allies Unlimited was organized for the openness of the allies support unit of the clubs.

In October 2000 Delta Lambda Phi (Beta Beta Chapter) was the first Gay, Bisexual, and progressive male fraternity at the University of South Alabama. That did not discriminate on the bases of sexual orientation.  The chapter was started by 5 students at USA and then in 2002 the fraternity was opened to other campus in the Mobile Area as a Multi-campus fraternity. Continuing till Fall 2005 till a lack of interest in membership closed the fraternity.

1996 Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Alliance v. Sessions - Alabama Sodomy Law

Alabama’s sodomy law was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court on June 26, 2003, as a result of the Court’s decision in Lawrence v. Texas, No. 02-102 (U.S. June 26, 2003). Previously, Alabama’s sodomy law applied to both heterosexual and same-sex partners. ALA. CODE § 13A-6-63 (2001); § 13A-6-64 (2001). Although the sodomy law did not apply to acts by consenting adults in private, homosexual conduct was criminalized under the sexual misconduct law. In the 2002 Alabama Supreme Court case Ex parte H.H., the sodomy law was used by the court to deny a lesbian mother custody of her children -- despite the holding of the intermediate court that the father verbally, emotionally and physically abused the children. In the 1996 landmark case, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Alliance v. Sessions, an Alabama college [University of South Alabama] attempted to use the sodomy law to deny funding to a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender student group [ GLBA ] at a state college [University of South Alabama]. The court held that the law violated the First Amendment. ALA. CODE § 13A-6-65(a)(3) (2001).

University of South Alabama University of South Alabama Spectrum The views and opinions expressed in these web page(s) are strictly those of the author. The contents of these pages have not been reviewed or approved by the University of South Alabama. For comments or questions about our web site, please E-mail the Webmaster. Last date changed: 2:00pm 5/7/2012 URL: http://www.southalabama.edu/glbta/index.htm