To the best of our knowledge, DSAGA was founded in February of the 1988-89 School year.  It was founded under the name The Gay Caucus, then later that year became GALA (Gay And Lesbian Alliance).  In 1990, the organization’s name was changed to BGALA (Bisexual, Gay, and Lesbian Alliance).  In 1993, the name was finally changed to DSAGA (Diverse Sexuality And Gender Alliance) in order to include transgenderism and ensure that no further name changes would be necessary.  This name choice was also meant to be inclusive of straight people, to assist in outreach to the straight allies community.

 Until 1993, the board consisted of a President and Secretary.  In 1994, the positions were changed to Executive Officer, Public Relations Officer, and Financial Officer to eliminate the hierarchy.  In 1997, the position of Secretary was reinstated, while the position of Financial Officer remained vacant.  In 1998, the positions of Events Coordinator and Historian were added.

 Due to the burgeoning responsibilities of the Exec Board, the positions were adjusted once more in 1999, splitting the Executive Officer’s position into a Director of Operations (who oversaw all programming aspects of DSAGA) and a Director of Administration (who oversaw all financial and administrative aspects of DSAGA).  The position of Historian was discarded as well.  Special Elections were held at the beginning of the 200 year to fill the Financial and Public Relations Officer Positions, which we left blank from the previous year’s elections.  The non-voting board position of Webmistress was added in 2001 to maintain the DSAGA website.

 In 1990, a campus-wide action was undertaken, headed by GALA, to encourage reconsideration of JHU’s ROTC program.  JHU had long included sexual orientation in its non-discrimination policy, but was also providing funds to the ROTC program, which, as a program of the Department of Defense, banned homosexuals.  A demonstration involving undergrad and graduate students, faculty, staff, and members of Maryland GLAAD and ACT-UP was held on December 4^th, 1990, at Levering Hall.  A campus wide survey administered by an ad-hoc committee formed by Dean Boswell revealed support for a change in policy.  To date, the issue has never completely been resolved.  However, the University does lobby the Defense Department to eliminate its discriminatory practices, and you can find this statement in its Non-Discrimination Statement.

 DSAGA was a Special Interest group under SAC guidelines until 1997, when Arthur Brady and Karen Henein successfully proposed a reclassification as a Cultural Group.

 JHU Coming Out Day was started in 1996 by Gloria Guzman.  On the morning of National Coming Out Day of that year, all of DSAGA’s posters and chalkings had been removed by Custodial Services at the request of the University Administration.  In response, Gloria organized a rally the next Friday.  Ever since, DSAGA has held events on National Coming Out Day (October 11^th) to remember these events.  Deans, professors, and student leaders (including student council presidents and people with coming out stories) have spoken at the annual rally.  Live bands have played to attract more people before the rally.  In 1997, Coming Out Week was developed by Karen Henein, who created the tradition of a week of events inbetween National and JHU Coming Out Days.  2000 saw the construction of a closet from cardboard and a coming out ceremony in front of Levering Hall.  The closet was rebuilt in wood the following year, with the ceremony held at the Milton S. Eisenhower Library.

 Awareness Days

The Awareness Days program began in 1992 and developed from one week of events into a month-long series.  The program works to increase awareness and promote discussion of issues that affect the LGBT and allied straight communities through educational speakers and events.  It seeks to promote awareness of issues facing the community, entertainers who broaden the reach of the series, and through cultural events that reinforce the identity of the community.  It aims to attract a wide range of people, and includes as many events as possible in a short period of time to develop a dynamic series momentum.

The tradition of cosponsoring large scale events with Spring Fair as the finale of Awareness Days was started by Gloria Guzman and Karen Henein in 1996.  In 1996, DSAGA cosponsored a comedy night and brought in Janeane Garofolo; in 1997, we cosponsored Harvey Feirstein.

 Currently, the Executive Board is working to expand the reach of Awareness Days and related activities throughout the year.

DSAGA Today

Today DSAGA has a membership of over 300 individuals at the Johns Hopkins University, pulling primarily from the Homewood Campus, but with representation from the Peabody Conservatory, the Bloomberg School of Public Health, and other campuses affiliated with the University. 

We maintain an office in Levering hall, directly west of Arellano Theater.  Feel free to contact us concerning more information on our proud past, or about becoming a part of our exciting future.
 

 Past Events

Awareness Days '07!