Office of the Provost. LGBTQ+ Center Records
RG22.3
Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives
English
12.6
Linear Feet
6 document boxes, 2 oversize folders, 2 oversize boxes, 1 record carton
1984
2023
circa 1984-2023, undated
WFU's LGBTQ+ Center is the campus organization where students, faculty, staff, and alumni connect for resources, services, education, and leadership programs related to gender identity and sexual orientation. The Center was established in 2011 to serve the needs of Wake Forest's LGBTQ+ students. This collection contains documents pertaining to the LGBTQ+ Center, including news clippings, brochures, correspondence, fliers, posters, t-shirts, training, conference, and other materials.
Historical Note
WFU's LGBTQ+ Center is the campus location where students, faculty, staff, and alumni connect for resources, services, education, and leadership programs related to gender identity and sexual orientation. It was built on the foundations of two predecessor groups, the Gay and Lesbian Association and Gay Straight Student Alliance. The LGBTQ Center was established as the LGBTQ Center in 2011 under the direction of Dr. A. J. Mazaris to serve the needs of LGBTQ students at Wake Forest. In May 2012, N.C. passed a state constitutional amendment, Amendment 1, that banned same-sex civil unions or marriages; it was overturned by the state Supreme Court in October 2014. The collection reflects the experiences and work of the Center during this time, and other periods where LGBTQ+ groups were targeted by national, state, and local politics and events.
The LGBTQ+ Center offers a variety of programs and events throughout the year including Safe Zone training and Identity Spaces. Their programming works on educating members of the Wake Forest community and creating a welcoming space for members of the LGBTQ+ community including small and large-group discussions, films, and participation in campus-wide events. In October, the Center offers unique programs and opportunites to celebrate Queer History Month including collaborations with other Wake Forest departments.
In 2019, the Center name became the LGBTQ+ Center to reflect a broader community of people of different genders and sexualities. The LGBTQ+ Center currently maintains an office in Benson University Center.
Collection Overview
This collection documents the work and activities of the LGBTQ+ Center and its staff and students. Material types include news clippings, brochures, correspondence, fliers, posters, t-shirts, related materials, and student contact logs maintained by the center's inaugural director A. J. Mazaris. Safe Zone training materials, and materials related to the Rising Voices conference in 2015 are also included.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into 3 series: series 1. Artifact, Event, and program materials; series 2. Department and Subject files; series 3. Inaugural Director, A. J. Mazeris materials. All three series are arranged alphabetically.
Preferred Citation
Office of the Provost. LGBTQ+ Center Records (RG22.3), Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for use.
Copyright Notice
The nature of the WFU Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. The Archives and Special Collections of ZSR Library claims only physical ownership of most materials. The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to the U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
Related Materials
Related collections in ZSR Special Collections and Archives include:
- Student Organizations. Gay Straight Student Alliance Records (RG8.22)
Artifact, event, and program materials20022022AIDS Memorial Quilit signed visitors banner20029Ally Week and Love Is Love signed banners20122014circa 2012-20145Center programming fliers and related Old Gold and Black articles20112013810Chick-fil-a meeting sign-in sheet201220122012 fall211Email announcements and updates201720172017 January-February31Email newsletters and event announcements 20142015214Email newsletters and event announcements2015201624Email newsletters and event announcements20162017215Email newsletters and event announcements2017218-19Email newsletters and event annoucements201837Email newsletters, weekly201820182018 January-April32Events fliers2013201618Events fliers2016201789Events fliers2017201819Events flier2019 fall 311Event posters20162019circa 2016-20193Lavender Graduation framed photograph collage201411Lavender Graduation framed program201411Lavender Graduation photo album2014102Lavender Graduation photograph book2014212Lavender Graduation programs and photobook20142022731Lavender Graduation programs2014201622Lavender Graduation program201720172017 April 26220Lavender Graduation program201820182018 May 236LGBTQ pinsundated9Light the Dark vigil email invitation2017 August 313Love Is Love celebration banner201420142014 October3"Love Is Love" t-shirts, black and yellow20122012circa 20129N. C. Amendment 1 buttons and stickers201220122012 May 811N. C. Amendment 1 event fliers and letters2011314N. C. Amendment 1, support notes after it passed 201220122012 May213President Biden LGBTQI+ Center Awareness day proclamations2021202211Program and event fliers20112015104Promotional fliers: Lavender Graduation, LGBTQ alumni conference 201527Pulse Nightclub shooting victims bookletcirca 2016101Pulse Nightclub victims memorial quilt20161"Queerceañera" exhibit posters20162020circa 2016-20204Rainbow hatundated9Rainbow Roundup weekly emails and updates correspondence201938-9Rising Voices conference: Alumni Conference materials201513Rising Voices conference: LGBTQ History panel transcript and related201535Rising Voices conference: LGBTQ timeline201528Rising Voices conference: participant materials2015 October107Rising Voices conference: planning materials 201515Rising Voices conference: presentations and social media posts201634Rising Voices conference: promotional material201514Safe Zone program manual201220122012 December26Safe Zone program manual 201320132013 Janurary25Safe Zone program manuals and related materials20132015109Safe Zone program manual, resource and event fliers201220212012, 2021103Safe Zone program manual with notes201388Safe Zone sticker contracts, signed2012 January-February1010Safe Zone terminology exercise and workbookundated86Safe Zone workbook2018312"Spectrum" tie-dye t-shirtundated9Transgender flag made of fabric stripsundated9Unite in Peace oversized sign with signatures supporting same-sex union in Wait Chapel1998 October 296"Wake Forest GSSA Alliance" t-shirtundated9"Wake Forest to offer tax equity benefits for same-sex domestic partners" and Rising Voices photos DVDs2013811Department and subject files19842023circa 1984-2023"Coming out to your parents" booklet and support groups fliers19841989circa 1984-1989210Benjamin, Omar, memorials, photographs, and related materials2023 August-October1012Biographical / HistoricalOmar Benjamin was a WFU alumnus (2020) and a Spectrum student leader on campus.
Fletcher, Dustin, research essay on WFU's inclusivityundated73Gay and lesbian issues clippings20112015217"Gays Turn a Corner at Wake Forest," <part>Winston Salem Journal</part> article 20032003circa 200321Greek Life petition regarding LGBTQ Center 20102010circa 2010216Information cards and stickers2019310Artifacts information and center brochurecirca 201312Kappa Alpha fraternity controversial-themed party and student YikYak poster responses printout2014723Latus, Justin. "Billy Poteat and Me," student paper on campus climate199287Mailing list sign-up sheets and Safe Zone workshop rosters20112019108Photograph release forms201181President Hatch statement against discriminatory vandalism poster201141Student Government letters and resolutions regarding LGBTQ harassment and discrimination 1987201229Student Government response resolution to N.C. House Bill 22016 Spring106Visitor tracking logs2011202016Wake Pride materials and <part>Wake Forest Magazine</part> issue20212022105Wilkie, Nancy Jo. "Seven Sides of Self" manuscript201917Inaugural Director, A. J. Mazaris, materials19922022Admissions Action Team final report2015716Advisory Council roster and agendas20112012720Campus climate and Tony Dungy visit discussion materials20132014713Center brochures, keynote event schedule, and Wake Forest Baptist Church ordination pamphlet20182019730Center mid-year and yearly status update reports20112012717Change Agents Student Leadership Development Program materials201985Chick-Fil-A on campus controversy materials2012201372Christmas card from Grace K. Harrington and thank-you note from Kelly M. Smith201320152013, 201533Collaborative Campus Climate Working Group proposal and meeting materials2014724Contact logs2011201274Contact logs2012201375Contact logs2013201476Contact logs2014201577Contact logs2015201678Contact logs2016201779Contact logs20172018710Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and WFU support for undocumented student correspondence2016715"Deliberative dialogue: Diversity and Inclusion at Wake Forest" essay circa 2012726Departing remarks essay2022722Greek life climate issues and acceptance checklist materials20072016circa 2007-2016714LGBTQIA Rising Voices Alumni Conference remarks201571N. C. House Bill 2, Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act, talking points, forum information, and fliers2016718Police Advisory Board Chair trophy awarded to Mazarisundated9Post-election toolkit and related information2020728President's Commission on LGBTQ Affairs materials2014201582President's Commission on LGBTQ Affairs policy subgroup meeting agenda and minutes201484President's Commission on LGBTQ Affairs surveys201483Residence Life and Housing student concerns correspondence20132014712Retreat planning and related materials2011721Scholarship informational brochurecirca 2016727Sexual assault and racism concerns and student protest materials20192021circa 2019-2021732Statement on Orlando's Pulse Nightclub shooting by Mazaris, Adam Goldstein, and Tim Auman201623Student Life Committee reports on campus climate2000719Students for a True Amerika flierscirca 2013725Vandalism incident talking points2011 November711Wake Pride 10th Anniversary remarks2022729WGSS and History course, Queer Public Histories, syllabus2022 spring1011