One week ago the Queer-Trans Resource Center (QTRC) opened at Bowdoin, making gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) issues more noticeable on campus. The dominant sentiment amongst GLBT students and their allies seems to be that while Bowdoin is a safe place, it is not welcoming of queer students. Their hope is that having a space on campus will foster discussion and dialogue about these issues and that the increased visibility will help to promote awareness and tolerance.
Professor Wendy Cadge of the Sociology/Anthropology Department has suggested that along with resources and support the QTRC will help foster the development of a queer community on campus. Queer resource centers have existed at the majority of liberal arts colleges for several years now, so she is excited to see Bowdoin catching up with this trend of providing institutional support for LGBT students.
Professor David Collings of the English department said that Bowdoin's history around LGBT issues has been complex. In the late '80s, and again briefly in the mid-'90s, the queer student group on campus had a room in the Women's Resource Center. The College during these times was an especially "queer-affirmative campus," with a large and active student group. The administration appointed a committee to create a new curriculum in Gay and Lesbian Studies.
Despite these gains, the campus climate for queer students remained challenging. The mid-to-late '90s brought about a change in both the administration and the student body, and the college occasionally had to respond to homophobic incidents. While queer students could usually rely on support from the administration and faculty, they often had to accept a less than welcoming attitude among students.
This attitude continues today with a climate that, while much less homophobic, is closeted. The out and active LGBT community on campus is small and not prominent in campus culture. This academic year has been a time of increased progress in the queer community, though, culminating with the opening of the QTRC.
While the QTRC is a great development for student life, there is still desire for change within the academic sphere. In 1993, the Gay and Lesbian Studies course was first offered. However, according to Professor Collings, due to its status as a special program, the course was easily ignored.
In 2000, Gay and Lesbian studies became a minor. Today, Professor Collings hopes that the department will continue to expand by including queer studies courses in more departments and curriculums. Since this is a new field of study it would be very progressive for Bowdoin to be actively involved in the development of the discipline.
Another hope of the queer community at Bowdoin is that the college will come to develop a broader sense of diversity.
The Queer-Trans Resource Center hopes to foster this sort of open dialogue about sexuality and gender on campus.
Stop by during the open hours or email qrc@bowdoin.edu with any questions about sexuality or gender. The resource center is located in the back of the Women's Resource Center.