Whatever they change their name to, someone will find it offensive or exclusive. You just can't win that game.

Holy shiat [sic] I'm fucking hungry.

This sort of thing drives me nutty.

accept the fact that eerything is a generalization and some people will be "left out" (in the name, not in the substance) and they just have to deal with it.

Call it the Gay Equality office or something.
Accept the fact that this is not fully descriptive ---and that it does nothave to be.
People wll get it.

"African-Americans" does not include Arab Africans who move to the USA. Even though they are technically Afro-American, right? So what????

It is used to describe biracial people though they are technically sometimes Afro-Euro-American, right?

So what????

Same with The United States Steel Company. If they do a little bronze and nickel and orangeaide production on the side, they don't rename themselves the US SteelBronzeNickelOrangeAide co. do they?

And the United States really includes 50 States plus DC plus overseas territories (VI) and Puerto Rico right? Does that make Unites "States" wrong?

Look at them go, varoooom.

The office that dare not speak its name for fear of offense is an interesting office. It's one of the oldest college LGBT offices in the nation, and what they've done in the past should be recognized and appreciated. I know they do lots of good things currently and are one of the places LGBT students can go for assistance. The current state of LGBT stuff here in MI isn't too great.

That said, I have some interesting anecdotes about my interactions with that office over the past 7 years--some positive and others not so. My perception is they've been infiltrated by too many grad students from the School of Social Work.

As for the name? My guess is not many people care one way or the other.

I think its great that anyone gives enough of a crap to consider better ways to serve and represent a minority group that most people either loathe or are ambivalent toward.

Let them work it out. Michigan already amended their state constitution against non-hetero citizens. What else is there to do for the queers in the state besides play fiddle stix?

They could just call themselves "invisible."

Anyone think there would be protesters at a straight married parade?

Hmmm...I'm straight, and I figured out that I was responsible for my own happiness and fulfillment when I was 19. What was the problem again?

/cue Life of Brian:

"We're all individuals!"
"I'm not..."

Seems to me someone was worried the agenda was a litle skimpy, look at all those action items! They're getting things done, dammit.

No, they just rename it some meaningless combination of initials or some brand new meaningless invented name.

The LGBT office could try that, I suppose.

If we all could agree on the "two poles" then there wouldn't be all this confusion, would there?

That's just the tip of the iceberg. I call it "label wars."

What about us straights? We should be in there too. LGSBT.

Think about it. Um. UM. UMMMMMMM.

What is it about forming a group that tends to turn us into process-people instead of results-people? I swear to God, a bunch of masturbating monkeys would be less irritating to me than this bunch.

(I'm queer and cranky and have had way too much personal experience with this horseshit so thanks for letting me vent.) Kisses.

There are a lot worse things to complain about in this world than a bunch of people bending over backward NOT to offend someone.

As for labels, based on events the past few years, I suggest, "Reichenites" or "HRCs" as both clearly believe we were created in their godlike image.

"That, or John."

I've lived here for less than a decade, and I'm not sure if Ms. K is still here or not. A quick whitepages.com search didn't turn up the name. . .

And Karl--I agree that this probably doesn't hurt anyone. But it's emblematic of how some parts of the "LGBT cabal" are glacially slow. The fundies hate us and get constitutional amendments up in a jiffy. We can't even figure out what to call ourselves, and we have to figure out what to call ourselves before we have a petition drive to put a pro-gay (queer? third sex?) ballot initiative up for a vote. This dickering about slows things down.

I for one, think we as a nation make decisions without enough process. We tend to be kind of knee jerk. Patriot Act. Seniors Prescription Drugs Act. Tora Bora. The threat to overhaul the whole social security system almost happened over night, but for a national panic that stopped it. No Child Left Behind. Freedom Fries.

This LGBT name change schedule is an example of a glacial process, but I agree. Who cares? There is nothing urgent about it. As in the slow food movement, I think taking time, when you can, is admirable. Let's save our *!#@!?!!? for something important, like, well, like what? Let's name those things and go after them.

You're right. Thoughtfulness is a good thing in many respects. I guess for some of us in Michigan, however, this is emblematic of the anemic "leadership" we have. As far as I know, the U of M's lgbt office has not announced a program to train LGBTSAQ folks on how to work for equality and to defeat the crazy fundamentalists. They've announed a name change program, though.

When the appeals court in MI ruled earlier this year (regarding a 2004 proposal) that domestic partners (as we're known) cannot get benefits through our state-employed (including the universities) domestic partners, the reaction from the LGBT groups in Michigan was outraged email blasts. The lgbt offices of universities were clueless, and when asked about it in a meeting the director of the lgbt office at U of M made offensive comments about how individuals didnt' do enough. Meanwhile we're told that it'll be at least 10 years (10 YEARS!) before we can do anything about the 2004 ballot. 10 YEARS!

This is only 1 reason why my partner and I are in the process of leaving Michigan.

You're right! Domestic partnerships are urgent and important. But is lobbying part of the mandate of the college LGBT office? I could see them taking a position and announcing it, although they don't seem to have the sense to do that. But it seems to me that fighting the state government and courts is a role for the local Human Rights Campaign and groups organized on the state level, not a small campus organization with no budget and a tiny underfunded staff and office dependent perhaps on Republicans for funding. Let them BE social workers until someone or something moves them to action. They apparently serve a good purpose on campus from what I read in earlier posts. If they were all rowdy and "in your face,' people would be yelling about their lack of social services and support for suffering campus people. You can't be everything unless you have a lot of money.

I know it is the University of Michigan, praise god, and we expect its organizations to be exemplary, tough and outspoken. But UofM is facing the same fate as other big dude colleges---they have lost their political edge and their passion for justice. Stick with the State organizations for support, but move to Baltimore, our colleges are pretty namby-pamby, but our our homosexual community is grand. You'd like it here. Whatever, move.

http://gayspirituality.typepad.com/blog/2007/07/beyond-alphabet.html

My only problem with this is that, to an outsider reading all of these high-minded Audre Lordeisms about this nitpicky, P.C. mess -- well, it makes gay-rights activists look ridiculous. It gives the impression that they're whiners who spend all their time looking for exclusion where none really exists. Which I think undermines them when they point out instances of actual exclusion.

Shut Up! We ARE moving to Baltimore!! Really and truly! We are so going to have to meet up. Sweet.

I understand what you're saying. I'm just disgruntled. There are no strong voices for Q folk in MI, and that's what's truly frustrating. The LGBT Office here has done wonderful things. And they can't be all things for all people. And they're taking steps to be more connected to other state university LGBT offices b/c they pretty much have to. That's fantastic and a welcome change. It's just too bad that we had to hit rock-freakin'-bottom to get to this point.

And I'm pretty sure they can't be overtly political. But at some point it becomes about survival. Serioulsy, we have gay folks here being quoted in the papers in more rural areas saying things like "we're just waiting for them to come with the boxcars to load us up." Fun times.

My impression is that the state-wide organizations are underfunded and, frankly, seem to be vanity projects for the men in charge of them. It's not that they haven't done good things, but they're limited in their reach. Of course, that could be because MI is in the crapper in a whole lot of other areas, and people are focused on the collapsing economy and the failing housing market.

"Michigan! The new Missisissippi only with worse weather and no sunshine!"

I'm serious about Baltimore, though. May 2008--look for me.

By then “gay” and “lesbian” will be soooo 2007.

\"In the meantime, invading and rebuilding Iraq will not only free the Iraqi people, it will also make the Saudis aware of the consequences they face if they continue to oppress their own people while exporting terrorism and terrorists. The War on Iraq will make it clear to our friends and enemies in the Middle East (and elsewhere) that we mean business: Free your people, reform your societies, liberalize, and democratize... or we\'re going to come over there, remove you from power, free your people, and reform your societies for ourselves\"

July 2007

Over 3600 American soldiers dead
Over 53,000 seriously wounded and maimed
Over 650,000 Iraqis dead
? seriously wounded and maimed
Over 2,000,000 Iraqis have fled their country
Estimated total cost (for USA) of Iraq war $2,000,000,000,000
Al Qaida is stronger than ever

So right on so many levels...

Anyone who believes that the LGBTA is wasting their resources and time on "flippant name changes" doesn't know what they're talking about.

Given the recent legal climate here in Michigan, the LGBTA has been astoundingly proactive and efficient and continues to be. Changing their name isn't the only program on their plate, just like breathing isn't the only activity the rest of you focus on during the day.

Learn about what the office has on its plate in addition to this, and then make your snide remarks.