Promoting acceptance: GLAAM revived

Chris Linden
assistant news editor

The Gay Lesbian Allies Associated of Millikin (GLAAM), a student organization aimed at gays, lesbians and those who support their cause, began its first group meeting last week, the first time the group had met since 2003. The organization promoting the “support, unity, and strength, and to work towards towards educational social, and political goals” is now being revived by freshman Rebecca Soderblom and others who want to promote this mission for the Millikin student body, 30 percent of which are estimated to be either gay or lesbian.

GLAAM, a local extension of the national Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance (GLAA), was first introduced to Millikin in 1997 with adviser Dr. Nancy DeJoy, but the group decided not to pursue further funding after 2003 because of sparse attendance and DeJoy’s following semester in England.

Dr. Priscilla Meddaugh, the new adviser for the group, hopes the revived GLAAM will better represent the gay and lesbian activism it supported when first established. When the former group trailed off, it had become an organization more supportive of cultural events promoting their causes.

“We want them to know that oppression of one is bad for everyone,” she said.

DeJoy hopes the new group will flourish under Meddaugh’s leadership.

“We have a significant responsibility to allow all members of our community to feel welcome and like they are an important part of the university,” she said. “It’s a public statement that we won’t stand for discrimination.”

Meddaugh wants to see the revived organization promote increased acceptance of these homosexual students.

“I hope we can make homosexuals feel safer on campus.”

She has deeply studied issues of white supremacy and finds it unusual that racism is no longer tolerated, but homophobia is still supported and practiced. Because GLAAM is designed for students of all sexual orientation, Meddaugh hopes the group can adjust attitudes on Millikin’s campus.

“It’s not just to tolerate, but celebrate,” she said.

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