Wichita State University is marking 40 years of having LGBT groups on campus.
Wichita State’s first lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender student group—called the Student Homophile Association—formed in 1976. It was just three years after the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its diagnostic manual.
This weekend, the university's current LGBT group, Spectrum, is holding an event to mark 40 years of recognized LGBT organizations at WSU. Spectrum vice president Josh Mitchell says that while progress has been made over the years, the organization still plays a very relevant role for students.
“We have a group for them to come and make friends and be social and experience what it’s like to be in Wichita, in the middle of Kansas, and be LGBT," he says.
Mitchell says Wichita State has become increasingly supportive of the organization and its members.
Spectrum's 40th anniversary celebration takes place at 6 p.m. Saturday at WSU.
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