Oakland University's Gender and Sexuality Center is Here to Stay

Its walls are painted almost every color of the rainbow. The couches are comfy and the condoms are plenty. What is this place? It's the Gender and Sexuality Center at Oakland University. Opened in Fall 2005 by students who lobbied for it, it is now run by a part-time coordinator, Joann Bautti-Roche. The GSC, as regulars of the center call it, focuses on issues pertaining to women and the LGBTQ community, which stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning. They use four ideas to run their center: resources, referrals, advocacy, and programs.

One of their main programs is the S.A.F.E campus program. S.A.F.E stands for "students, administrators, & faculty for equality on campus". S.A.F.E is a program that trains whomever wishes to join on issues related to the LGBTQ population at Oakland University. Members trained with the S.A.F.E program provide support for anyone dealing with gender identity or expression issues and are committed to educating themselves on such issues. The two-hour training session includes a PowerPoint, activities, and a question panel.

Another new program started by Bautti-Roche, is the LGBT peer-mentoring program. It is the first program of its kind at Oakland University as well as in Michigan. Students who have been at OU and worked with the GSC for two years or more may peer mentor first year students. This allows new students to start in a safe and confident environment.

"When some students come on campus for the first time this might be the first time they can explore questions about their gender. They need to know they're not alone," said Bautti-Roche.

Bautti-Roche is an also advisor to the Gay Straight Alliance, runs women's forums, organizes volunteers, creates and manages new programs, coordinates events, runs S.A.F.E training, is a guest speaker in classes, make sure tour guides know about GSC, and talks to individuals.

"I love it, I could work everyday. [The GSC] is a very warm, welcoming, inclusive and safe environment. Students often come to hang out," said Bautti-Roche.

At the GSC, "we value diversity and exclusiveness", said Bautti-Roche, but she feels we are behind other colleges. She said most have separate gender and sexuality centers and are more funded.

Ben Spedoske, an elementary education major, is a student who stopped into the center as it was first coming about in 2004-2005. He said he checked out the GSC because of a friend's referral.

"I thought it was the kind of message that should be spread without making [the issues] a big deal," said Spedoske.

He soon volunteered there weekly during a winter semester and is seen frequently involved in activities and events the GSC hosts.

His favorite event was the Clothesline Project, a project that involved survivors of domestic or sexual abuse making shirts that were showcased. One was actually a former OU student, which Spedoske said shows that the issues pertain to everyone.

He also often attends the weekly discussion forum put on by interns of the GSC who are often women's studies students. These forums are called "That Time of the Week". Spedoske said his favorite discussion topic was on the perception of masculinity. He said this topic was close to home because even though he is a straight man, he is an elementary education major, has many friends that are women, and is not society's typical view of a man.

Spedoske was seen wearing black nail polish, which he said he got a lot of questions about. One person even said to him, "that must be for Halloween or you'd be under suspicion." He said people think if you are a man and you have your nails painted black that must mean you are gay or Goth and people are unwilling to accept anything else.

Spedoske is also working with Bautti-Roche on getting the gender identity clause into the Oakland University's non-discrimination policy. The GSC has a petition going and Spedoske, part of the OU Student Congress, said they passed a resolution for gender identity. He feels the resolution passed because people do not want to be too vocal on being for or against gender identity.

Spedoske said gender identity is "how a person sees themselves as a certain gender even though they weren't born that gender."

A fellow regular at the GSC, Hector Jackson, a Spanish major, said that gender identity is "real or perceived."

Perception is a topic that the GSC knows about, as Spedoske said that he noticed people are often afraid to go in the center. He said he doesn't know whether people are afraid of how they will be perceived if they are associated with the center or if people are afraid of the actual issues at play there.

Bautti-Roche said she feels no direct discrimination, but doesn't know if the fact the GSC is slow to receive funding and to become fully staffed is an effect of discrimination. She hopes that is not the case.

She wishes people would see the new definition of diversity and see the value in it.

"It's not just black, white, and brown anymore," said Bautti-Roche.

Spedoske also hopes for less discrimination around Oakland University.

"It is hard for people to accept what it is we actually do, but I'm hoping there's not a big problem continuing in the future," he said.

Whether you are an avid member of the GSC already, have never ventured through the door, or didn't know about it all together, Bautti-Roche and Spedoske urge you to check it out.

Currently, the GSC is under construction and meets in the Kresge Library in the Gaylor collection in room 106; the GSC will be back in the Oakland Center with its comfortable couches and colorful walls as soon as renovations are over. Even if you are not part of the LGBTQ community, the center is great for women's resources or simply to hang out with a few friendly faces.

"I have actually napped there," said Jackson.

Check out the Gender and Sexuality Center's website in the Oakland University's webpage for upcoming events or more information.