The records of the Spectrum Center document the activities of the center from 1976 to 2012, 2019-2021 (bulk 1987-2012). Materials in this record group consist of correspondence (including electronic mail printouts and memoranda), clippings, educational training manuals, minutes, reports, topical files, photographic materials, audio and visual materials, and oral histories.
For earlier records of the office, see the Lesbian-Gay Male-Bisexual Programs Office series within the James W. Toy papers, which is also held at the Bentley Library. Note that there is some overlap between the records in the James W. Toy papers and this record group.
The Spectrum Center was created in 1971 as the Human Sexuality Office within the Office of Special Services and Programs of the University of Michigan. Initially heading the office were two individuals, a lesbian advocate Cynthia Gair, also known as Cindi, Cyndy, or Cindy Gair, and a gay male advocate James (Jim) W. Toy, each of them temporary and part-time. A year later the advocate positions were upgraded to permanent and professional level, but they were still only funded at one-quarter time. Five years later the advocates became funded at one-half time through the efforts of concerned university and community members. In about 1980, the office was taken out of the Office of Special Services and Programs and brought under the supervision of the Director of Counseling Services. At this same time, the term advocate was dropped and in its place the position of program coordinator established. By the late 1980s, the co-coordinator positions were made full-time.
In 1994, the office ceased having two individuals in charge (one for lesbians and one for gay males) and a single director headed the Program. Ronni Sanlo served as the first director. It was also at this time that James W. Toy resigned. Over the years, the program has changed its name several times, from the Human Sexuality Office to the Lesbian-Gay Male Programs Office (LGMPO); to the Lesbian-Gay Male-Bisexual Programs Office; to the Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs (LGBTA); and, most recently, to the Spectrum Center. The Center is administratively located within the Office of the Vice President for Student Life.
As the first such university office established in the United States, the Human Sexuality Office had no models to emulate. The diverse program created by the two advocates was intended to meet specific needs and concerns. From the beginning, education, peer advising and counseling, gay rights advocacy, and community organization were the primary concerns of the Human Sexuality Office. Throughout the history of the office, the advocates sought to educate the university community to dispel myths and stereotypes about gay life. Through classroom presentations, appearances at seminars and conferences, both within and outside the university environment, and consciousness-raising sessions for university units, the office sought to promote an open and supportive environment at the university. The popularity and demand for such presentations soon overwhelmed the advocates and they began a program to train volunteers or facilitators who would go around to the various classes. This emphasis designated the Educational Outreach Program and was eventually headed, beginning in 1982, by paid coordinators. Additionally, LGMPO served as a clearinghouse where gay men and lesbians could go for information about gay life and activities.
The counseling program of the office consisted of peer and professional counseling and peer counselor and group facilitator training. The advocates were able to provide short- and long-term professional counseling for individuals, couples, and groups. For a time, the office became home to a 24-hour "Gay Hotline" operated by members of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) and funded privately by the GLF and others. The Hotline served those individuals, sometimes troubled, who needed to talk with someone of a similar sexual orientation or who could be referred to an appropriate organization or individual with specialized professional training.
Gay rights advocacy was a core mission of the office. Beginning in 1972, one of the important aims of the advocates was working towards an amendment of Regents Bylaw 14.06 to prohibit discrimination within the university community based on sexual orientation. Much of the first public demonstration to revise 14.06 was done by the Gay Liberation Front and then in the 1980s by a student group known as LaGROC (Lesbian and Gay Rights on Campus). Using sit-ins and other non-violent demonstrations, LaGROC dramatized the importance of revising the bylaw. In 1984, pressure from LaGROC was primarily responsible for President Harold Shapiro issuing a Presidential Policy on non-discrimination. Although sexual orientation was still not included as part of 14.06 (the Bylaw was eventually changed in September 1993), the presidential statement was a partial victory for LaGROC, and led to the establishment of the President's Task Force on Sexual Orientation that was intended to oversee the implementation of the Presidential Policy.
The office celebrated its thirtieth anniversary in the fall of 2002 under the direction of Frederic MacDonald-Dennis (Director, 1997-2005). During MacDonald-Dennis's tenure, the organization focused on increasing transgender individuals' inclusion, education concerning transgender individuals' issues, and on increasing inclusion for students of color. Several new programs were developed. Among them, the Transforum Program, advocating for the rights and well-being of transgender persons. The Program was created by students to provide university community members with support and resources. In March 2005, an ally training program, known as the Allyhood Development Training Program, was established.
In the fall of 2005, Jackie Simpson took over as Office Director and, in 2008, the name of the office was changed to the Spectrum Center in order to better represent the diversity of identities it serves. Under Simpson, the office celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2011 by holding a series of celebratory events including inviting alumni back to campus and hosting the Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Ally College Conference (MBLGTACC). Other endeavors that the Spectrum Center focused on during Simpson's tenure included instituting a gender neutral housing policy and advocating for gender identity to be included within the university bylaws. In 2013, the Gender Inclusive Living Experience—a partnership between the Spectrum Center and University Housing to develop an inclusive and supportive living environment in East Quadrangle—was founded.
In 2014, Will Sherry was appointed Interim Director and was officially named Director in 2015. The center continues to work to ensure that all students have a voice and safe space on the University of Michigan campus by offering a variety of educational and training opportunities, grants and scholarships (e.g., the Chris Armstrong Scholarship), events, and information and resources—particularly, resources housed in the Jim Toy Library.
As part of the Spectrum Center's 50th anniversary celebration, it's staff began the Spectrum Center LGBTQ Oral History Project (also known as the LGBTQ+ Oral History Project) in 2019. The project—which was led by University of Michigan undergraduate students—is focused on documenting LGBTQ narratives, providing students and researchers with the opportunity to explore and access LGBTQ archives, and diversifying the historical record. A website commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Spectrum Center, and which prominently featured the project, was publicly launched in Fall 2021.
Directors of the Spectrum Center
| Date |
Event |
| 1994-1997 | Ronni Sanlo |
| 1997-2005 | Fredric MacDonald-Dennis |
| 2005-2014 | Jackie Simpson |
| 2014-2015 | Will Sherry (Interim) |
| 2015- | Will Sherry |
