Gay and lesbian students at Texas A&M University-Commerce can now find support in an organization called, the Association for the Needs of Gay and Lesbian Students (ANGLS).
The purpose of the organization is to educate students on homosexual, bisexual, and transgender student issues, to work towards eliminating discrimination against these students and to affirm a positive self-image for the organization as a whole.
“Our purpose is to promote awareness and interest in the civil liberties of gay, lesbian, and transgender students,” Sarah Ball, secretary treasurer of ANGLS, said. “We want to promote equality not just for the needs of gays and lesbians, but for the entire community.”
ANGLS was founded in 1992 by Jefferson McCartley, a former A&M-Commerce student, after he was harassed by a faculty member for his sexual orientation.
“He just got a whole bunch of his friends together and began the organization. They stood up for what they believed in,” Ball said.
Though the organization started 16 years ago, it soon faded away and only recently restarted.
“We just got started in the late spring so we’re kind of going with the flow because we don’t know how things were ran in the past,” Heather Flores-Ricks, president of ANGLS, said. Individuals in the current organization joined together to bring ANGLS back because of their own experiences with homosexual discrimination.
“Being gay is not a disease. Last year my dad didn’t want me to go out of town with my lesbian roommate because he thought I would turn lesbian,” Flores-Ricks said. “The point of this organization is to promote awareness and tolerance for homosexuality.”
Ball said, “So many people on this campus are not tolerant that is why we are here for support of the student or anyone that needs support.”
The organization is also focused on bringing in more members.
“One of our goals is to get more members and to set this organization up for future generations,” Flores-Ricks said. A common misconception about the organization is that all members are gay, lesbian, or transgender.
“Heather and I are not lesbians,” Ball said. “Anyone can join the organization.”
Meetings take place every other Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in room 203 of the Hall of Languages. New member just show up at the meetings, fill out a member information sheet, and pay dues.
McCartley will be visiting the campus Thursday, Oct. 16, in the Leadership Lounge at 7 p.m. to tell how the organization got started. To learn more about ANGLS either attend McCartley’s presentation or visit the Web site at http://www.anglstamuc.proboards54.com.