With recent advances of gay marriage bills in Washington state and New Jersey, we may tend to think of gay rights as a role for political intervention and forget grassroots groups that work to protect gay freedoms right next door. One such group, DU’s Queer Faculty Alliance provides a venue for LGBTQ professors and instructors working at DU to come together as a community.
The idea for QFA originally came to founder Nancy Wadsworth in 2004, when she was a newly hired political science instructor at DU.
“I wondered if there was any group of organized gay and lesbian faculty, as there had been years before,” said Wadsworth.
In the 1980s, DU did in fact have a LGBTQ faculty organization, which supported insurance rights for partners as well as other recognition and benefits.
In 2007, Wadsworth and co-founder David Shneer, a former associate professor of history and Judaic studies, sent out a mass email to gather a group of faculty interested in taking part in the QFA. They reached up to 44 members on their mailing list, which included faculty across multiple departments and within the administration. Their initial meeting group included 25 members.
“We had get-togethers on and off campus to discuss what it means to be doing research relating to LGBTQ issues, and how that impacts tenure and promotions,” said Wadsworth. “We wanted to do advocacy and alliance with other groups as well.”
The QFA, which is also open to straight allies, has strived to further inclusivity and diversity at DU.
In 2009, the QFA helped address the issue of LGBTQ men of color feeling isolated on campus.
“We organized a joint meeting and told coming-out stories,” said Wadsworth. The event was a success in helping all members of the community come together.
When DU was searching for a new dean, the QFA was invited to join the review board. However, Wadsworth admits it can be difficult to maintain membership when there is no pressing issue to rally behind.
“We’re spoiled at DU,” she said. “We have partner benefits. It’s comfortable here to be out of the closet. If there were some slighted individual we could come together to support them. Of course, Colorado can still be a hostile place [for LGBTQ people]. We’re really seeking to build alliances across the Front Range.”
Alliance with other organizations at DU is also a major focus of the QFA. Connections with the Center for Multicultural Excellence have enabled the QFA to extend its reach beyond campus and make their presence known to potential new faculty.
“If a potential new faculty member wants to know the climate on campus, they can know we’re here, thanks to the CME. We’d like to have brochures and information in welcome packets.”
The CME has also been instrumental in providing the money and resources to help LGBTQ and questioning students discover LGBTQ faculty and establish a mentoring program.
“It helps to have visibility, to have students able to find [LGBTQ] professors and know they are successful., ” said Wadsworth.
Wadsworth emphasized the QFA is geared towards the specific needs of faculty, rather than a blanket LGBTQ organization.
“When you’re in your thirties and forties, being queer is not the main way you identify. At this stage in our lives there are lots of different ways to get together and connect, but it’s nice to know that [the QFA] is here if we’re ever in need,” said Wadsworth.
Although many QFA projects, including the mentoring program and informational brochures, are still under development, QFA is making strides to reach their lofty goals.
