"Endacott’s decision allows condom giveaway at unl," Lincoln Journal Star, February 18, 1987, page 19

Bell resigns as chairperson, Daily Nebraskan, June 14, 1990.

Jenna Wolfe, History 250: The Historian Craft, Fall 2021

Upon its grant of office space in 1984, the Gay Lesbian Student Association, or GLSA, began its mission to provide support for gay students at UNL.[1] The AIDS epidemic had begun, and when it came to views on homosexuality during the 1980s, the air was rife with controversy. For example, Gallup concluded in 1987 that 43% of Americans thought it possible for AIDS to have been a punishment from God for “immoral sexual behavior.”[2] When the GLSA was born, their club was relatively small: while it is worth noting that some events did receive up to 90 participants, the average amount of attendees at GLSA events in the middle of the 1980s never exceeded 16 students.[3] With limited numbers and resources, and in the presence of rampant homophobia, it would not have been surprising for the GLSA to have been an inconsequential entity which bore little significance on the history of UNL. However, despite their small numbers, the GLSA successfully pushed against the status quo by providing information on AIDS and pushing for change in ways which regularly received hate and disapproval.

In 1983, the Centers for Disease control ruled out casual contact as a means of transmission for AIDS. Unfortunately, two years after this scientific discovery was confirmed, middle school student Ryan White was unjustly barred from attending school upon contracting AIDS from a blood transfusion.[4] The event drew national attention and was a shining example of the public’s willingness to believe misinformation. Misinformation was not only spread through public chatter, but from professionals who used their perceived authority to spread homophobic views. For example, American psychologist Paul Cameron agreed with the decision to isolate White and gained fame and notoriety during the 1980s as a direct result of his homophobic rhetoric. Although he was barred from the American Psychological Association in 1983, Cameron was invited to speak on UNL campus in October of 1985. Cameron shared his belief that children with AIDS should not be allowed to attend school, in addition to the sentiment that gay men were responsible for endangering public health. Horrified by the university’s decision to allow a disreputable professional to spread misinformation on campus, the GLSA teamed up with UNL’s Young Democrats group to schedule a protest in response to Cameron’s speech. Their numbers were small: according to the Daily Nebraskan, only around two dozen students were present at the Nebraska Union for the protest.[5] While small in size, the protest did not go unnoticed. In fact, in 1986, the protest was cited as one of the reasons Nebraska chose UNL’s Young Democrats as the state’s outstanding chapter.[6] Even without the support of a large number of students, the GLSA persevered in their fight against misinformed fearmongering.

To take further action against misinformation, the GLSA made keeping themselves informed with accurate information on AIDS a top priority, with the group regularly contacting organizations such as the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department and the Arkansas AIDS Foundation to request information.[7] These efforts paid off. In 1987, Nebraska’s Millard North High School requested the GLSA to provide an informational speech about AIDS to its students.[8] That same year, GLSA President Rodney Bell II spoke on Lincoln radio station KFOR to inform the community on gay issues. After the interview, news director Dale Johnson contacted Bell to share his belief that Lincoln was “now better informed.”[9] Even if their own numbers were small, the GLSA’s focus on learning accurate AIDS information allowed them to reach a larger group of people in order to push against the tide of misinformation and ignorance.

Some of the GLSA’s efforts against misinformation were more drastic. In February of 1987, the GLSA planned an event called “UNL Condom Day.” They requested to pass condoms, brochures, and pamphlets to students in the student union for the purpose of sex education and the prevention of STI’s, particularly AIDS. Authored by GLSA members, the pamphlet entitled “Condom Sense” was the most controversial. By 1980s standards, the pamphlet was viewed as crude and impolite. Without the use of euphemisms, Condom Sense boldly mentioned sex toys, pornography and masturbation in an attempt to make safe sex seem more appealing.[10] UNL Condom Day was prohibited by campus officials. In defense of their prohibition of the event, the Board of Regents claimed the informational pamphlets were too vulgar, and labeled UNL Condom Day as an event which would be far too controversial.[11]

When the GLSA made it clear to the Board that UNL Condom Day would proceed without approval, a legal battle through the Lancaster County District Court ensued. The Board of Regents, whose argument now rested on the distribution of commercial products, attempted to issue a temporary restraining order against any GLSA affiliates in attempt to halt UNL Condom Day.[12] President Bell was not concerned with any possible legal consequences of carrying out the event without permission. Regarding his determination to carry out UNL Condom Day regardless of the decisions made by either the Board or presiding Judge Donald Endacott, Bell stated, “if we’re arrested, we’re arrested.”[13] To the dismay of campus officials, the restraining order was denied the same day the event was scheduled to occur. Condom Day proceeded as planned, and the controversy led to publicity.[14] UNL Condom Day received coverage from multiple news publications across the largest cities in Nebraska, including the Lincoln Journal-Star, Omaha World-Herald, and Grand Island Daily Independent, thus indicating that the GLSA was making waves and drawing the public’s attention. Because the Board of Regents had an extreme response to UNL Condom Day, it seemed that they felt the GLSA was pushing too many boundaries, and it seemed equally clear that the GLSA did not care for traditional social conventions.

The GLSA was birthed into a campus culture which was often not accepting of people in the LGBTQ community. In 1986, UNL Greek fraternity Theta Nu Epsilon published a newsletter containing a paragraph poking fun at the GLSA. Under a section entitled “TNE’s Student Organization of the Fall Semester: The GLSA,” Theta Nu Epsilon satirically claimed that the GLSA’s promotion of “alternate lifestyles” had led to the creation of a Student Bestiality Society. In a more serious tone, they accused the group of promoting deviance and immorality.[15] Theta Nu Epsilon’s opinions were not representative of the entirety of the Greek system. However, the fact that such speech was allowed in a system representing over a quarter of UNL’s student population was a clear indicator of the breadth of homophobia on campus. Opposing opinion pieces in “The Daily Nebraskan” demonstrated the existence of polarizing opinions at UNL. In a Daily Nebraskan article dated to 1985, student Jeffrey A. Elston shared his view that seeing a man in mascara “makes [him] nauseous,” then proceeded to describe homosexuality as deviant. Elston’s article was written in response to a previous Daily Nebraskan piece detailing the GLSA’s work to establish Gay Student Month.[16] Thus, the message was clear: when the GLSA spoke, the students responded, and often negatively.

Nothing sent this message more clearly, however, than the student body’s response to the GLSA-sponsored Wear Jeans If You’re Gay Day. An indicator of homophobia can be found in someone’s response to an accusation of being affiliated with homosexuality, and in 1985, hundreds of unwitting heterosexual students poured onto campus wearing jeans, unaware that this special day in April was, in fact, Wear Jeans If You’re Gay Day. Considering the homophobia GLSA members claimed to have witnessed on campus, it is unlikely that they expected the event to proceed without disapproval from their straight, jeans-clad peers who were now unwilling participants in a gay event. A premonition of disdain was proven correct, as the event caused the GLSA to be targeted with over 100 hate calls.[17] The lack of acceptance towards homosexuality on campus demonstrated the significance of a gay student group constantly pushing against disapproval.

UNL’s culture of disapproval towards the LGBTQ community did not exist in a vacuum. Unfortunately, it was a simple reflection of opinions present in Lincoln and the rest of America. Retroactive polling analysis of the early 1980s reported a strong lack of sympathy towards gays from 46% of American respondents. Throughout the country, statistical estimations based on polling reported similar to stronger feelings of disdain toward homosexuality in the 1980s as compared to the decades immediately proceeding or following. Thus, between the 1970s to the 1990s, American homophobic attitudes likely found their peak in the 1980s.[18]

Lincoln was no exception to the homophobia which pervaded American society. In May of 1987, a “concerned citizen” sent a letter to the GLSA regarding their negative feelings towards the presence of homosexuality on UNL campus. Attached to this letter was a piece of Christian religious rhetoric condemning homosexuality, and according to the anonymous Lincolnite, homosexuality was not only “anti-God,” but “anti-human.”[19] The letter did not seem to have originated from a UNL student or faculty member. Additionally, according to Bell, derogatory and even threatening prank calls were a common occurrence, and many of these calls came not only from campus affiliates but from the larger Lincoln community. In a single week in September of 1985, three threatening voice messages were left on the GLSA answering machine. One of the anonymous callers stated his inclination for violence against gays and his plan to attend a GLSA meeting with malicious intent.[20] Despite their relatively small numbers, the GLSA was significant enough and controversial enough to have warranted the reception of hate from those in Lincoln who were not tied to the university. This is further evidence of the GLSA’s resilience and bravery. Not only were they facing pushback from campus entities, but the larger community with which their campus resided.

Even amidst the disdain towards gay people which was clearly prevalent in Lincoln, the GLSA continued its attempts to create change and leave a beneficial impact at UNL. In 1985, the GLSA proposed Bylaw 29 to UNL’s student government, ASUN, as an amendment which would have required all UNL organizations to refrain from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Student government senators initially passed the amendment, a huge win for the GLSA, but it was quickly vetoed by ASUN President Gerard Keating. Although a veto attempt failed 19-8, the ordeal still found success. Because of the GLSA’s actions, discourse had been sparked and multiple organizations chose to add Bylaw 29 to their constitutions, signaling shifting attitudes on campus and increased acceptance towards gay students.[21] Another piece of evidence which indicates that the GLSA did, indeed, leave a positive impact on campus is UNL’s recognition of Rodney Bell II, the group’s then-current president. The coveted Sue Tidball award was won by three UNL students, Bell among them, based solely on how they had “enriched and enhanced” the lives of others. One student was recognized for their efforts towards handicapped UNL students, another for work with special Olympians, and Bell for his efforts largely within the GLSA. Bell was applauded for his work to create a more accepting campus environment in order to ease the loneliness and ostracization faced by LGBTQ students.[22] It seems that, during the 1980s, the presence and efforts of the GLSA was a beacon of light and hope for UNL students belonging to the gay community.

An organization cannot receive significant backlash without perceived relevance, and the GLSA did indeed receive significant backlash. Considering the homophobia present in America, propelled in part by the AIDS epidemic, it is not surprising that a gay student group was subject to hateful and ignorant rhetoric. What is surprising, however, is the sheer amount of controversy and publicity generated by the GLSA and lengths they went in order to educate Lincoln about AIDS and advocate for the gay community. Even going so far as to battle the Board of Regents in court, the GLSA was radical, a small but mighty force to be reckoned with. Ultimately, the GLSA found success in their efforts to push for AIDS education and the safety of gay UNL students.

Notes

1. UNL GLSA Chronology, 1984-1985, RG 38-03-48, Box 1, GLSA Chronology 1984-1985, GLSA/Spectrum, Archives & Special Collections, University of Lincoln-Libraries
2. McCarthy, Justin. “Gallup Vault: Fear and Anxiety during the 1980s AIDS Crisis.” Gallup.com. Gallup, August 13, 2021. https://news.gallup.com/vault/259643/gallup-vault-fear-anxiety-during-1980s-aids-crisis.aspx.
3. Attendance Statistics, 1985-1989, RG 38-03-48, Box 1, Attendance Statistics 1985-1989, GLSA/Spectrum, Archives & Special Collections, University of Lincoln-Libraries
4. History.com Editors. “AIDS Crisis Timeline.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, June 14, 2021. https://www.history.com/topics/1980s/hiv-aids-crisis-timeline.
5. Deseims, Jen. “Psychologist Blames Technology for AIDS Spread.” Daily Nebraskan. October 21, 1985.
6. Johnson, Diana. “Student Elected Chief of State of Young Demos.” Daily Nebraskan. April 16, 1986.
7. Correspondence from Roger Hochstetler to Arlene Gibbon, 4 November 1987, RG 38-03-48, Box 1, GLSA Spectrum Correspondence, GLSA/Spectrum, Archives & Special Collections, University of Lincoln-Libraries
8. Correspondence from Gene Stanford to Rodney Allen Bell, 30 January 1987, RG 38-03-48, Box 1, GLSA Spectrum Correspondence, GLSA/Spectrum, Archives & Special Collections, University of Lincoln-Libraries
9. Correspondence from Dale Johnson to Rodney Allen Bell II, 13 January 1987, RG 38-03-48, Box 1, GLSA Spectrum Correspondence, GLSA/Spectrum, Archives & Special Collections, University of Lincoln-Libraries
10. Condom Sense Pamphlet, 1987, RG 38-03-48, Box 2, Condom Controversy 1987, GLSA/Spectrum, Archives & Special Collections, University of Lincoln-Libraries
11. Correspondence from Rodney Allen Bell II and Vicki Jedlicka to Daryl Swanson, 16 February 1987, RG 38-03-48, Box 2, Condom Controversy 1987, GLSA/Spectrum, Archives & Special Collections, University of Lincoln-Libraries
12. Restraining Order from University of Nebraska to GLSA, February 1987, RG 38-03-48, Box 2, Condom Controversy 1987, GLSA/Spectrum, Archives & Special Collections, University of Lincoln-Libraries
13. Gades, Amy. “UNL Student Group Planning to Hand Out Condoms Anyway.” Lincoln Journal Star, February 1987.
14. Flanery, James A. “UNL Effort Fails to Halt Condom Distribution.” Omaha World-Herald, February 18, 1987.
15. Theta Nu Epsilon Newsletter, February 1987, RG 38-03-48, Box 1, GLSA-Spectrum Hate Mail, GLSA/Spectrum, Archives & Special Collections, University of Lincoln-Libraries
16. Elston, Jeffrey A. “Homosexuality 'Deviant'.” Daily Nebraskan. April 10, 1985.
17. Endacott, Kent. “April Is Gay/Lesbian Student Month.” Daily Nebraskan. April 10, 1986.
18. Yang, Alan S. “Trends: Attitudes Toward Homosexuality.” The Public Opinion Quarterly 61, no. 3 (1997): 477–507. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2749583.
19. Correspondence from anonymous to GLSA, 4 May 1987, RG 38-03-48, Box 1, GLSA-Spectrum Hate Mail, GLSA/Spectrum, Archives & Special Collections, University of Lincoln-Libraries
20. Daily Nebraskan Staff Reporter. “Caller Threatens UNL Gays.” Daily Nebraskan. September 11, 1985.
21. Tetreault, Pat, and Jacy Farris. “Chancellor's Commission on the Status of Gender and Sexual Identities: History of LGBT at UNL .” unl.edu. Accessed November 17, 2021. ccsgsi.unl.edu.
22. Hooper, Michael. “Three Students Receive Awards for Their Work to Enrich Others' Lives.” Daily Nebraskan. April 15, 1986.

Bibliography

• Attendance Statistics, 1985-1989, RG 38-03-48, Box 1, Attendance Statistics 1985-1989, GLSA/Spectrum, Archives & Special Collections, University of Lincoln-Libraries
• Condom Sense Pamphlet, 1987, RG 38-03-48, Box 2, Condom Controversy 1987, GLSA/Spectrum, Archives & Special Collections, University of Lincoln-Libraries
• Correspondence from anonymous to GLSA, 4 May 1987, RG 38-03-48, Box 1, GLSA-Spectrum Hate Mail, GLSA/Spectrum, Archives & Special Collections, University of Lincoln-Libraries
• Correspondence from Dale Johnson to Rodney Allen Bell II, 13 January 1987, RG 38-03-48, Box 1, GLSA Spectrum Correspondence, GLSA/Spectrum, Archives & Special Collections, University of Lincoln-Libraries
• Correspondence from Gene Stanford to Rodney Allen Bell, 30 January 1987, RG 38-03-48, Box 1, GLSA Spectrum Correspondence, GLSA/Spectrum, Archives & Special Collections, University of Lincoln-Libraries
• Correspondence from Rodney Allen Bell II and Vicki Jedlicka to Daryl Swanson, 16 February 1987, RG 38-03-48, Box 2, Condom Controversy 1987, GLSA/Spectrum, Archives & Special Collections, University of Lincoln-Libraries
• Correspondence from Roger Hochstetler to Arlene Gibbon, 4 November 1987, RG 38-03-48, Box 1, GLSA Spectrum Correspondence, GLSA/Spectrum, Archives & Special Collections, University of Lincoln-Libraries
• Daily Nebraskan Staff Reporter. “Caller Threatens UNL Gays.” Daily Nebraskan. September 11, 1985.
• Deseims, Jen. “Psychologist Blames Technology for AIDS Spread.” Daily Nebraskan. October 21, 1985.
• Elston, Jeffrey A. “Homosexuality 'Deviant'.” Daily Nebraskan. April 10, 1985.
• Endacott, Kent. “April Is Gay/Lesbian Student Month.” Daily Nebraskan. April 10, 1986.
• Flanery, James A. “UNL Effort Fails to Halt Condom Distribution.” Omaha World-Herald, February 18, 1987.
• Gades, Amy. “UNL Student Group Planning to Hand Out Condoms Anyway.” Lincoln Journal Star, February 1987.
• History.com Editors. “AIDS Crisis Timeline.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, June 14, 2021. https://www.history.com/topics/1980s/hiv-aids-crisis-timeline.
• Hooper, Michael. “Three Students Receive Awards for Their Work to Enrich Others' Lives.” Daily Nebraskan. April 15, 1986.
• Johnson, Diana. “Student Elected Chief of State of Young Demos.” Daily Nebraskan. April 16, 1986.
• McCarthy, Justin. “Gallup Vault: Fear and Anxiety during the 1980s AIDS Crisis.” Gallup.com. Gallup, August 13, 2021. https://news.gallup.com/vault/259643/gallup-vault-fear-anxiety-during-1980s-aids-crisis.aspx.
• Restraining Order from University of Nebraska to GLSA, February 1987, RG 38-03-48, Box 2, Condom Controversy 1987, GLSA/Spectrum, Archives & Special Collections, University of Lincoln-Libraries
• Tetreault, Pat, and Jacy Farris. “Chancellor's Commission on the Status of Gender and Sexual Identities: History of LGBT at UNL .” unl.edu. Accessed November 17, 2021. ccsgsi.unl.edu.
• Theta Nu Epsilon Newsletter, February 1987, RG 38-03-48, Box 1, GLSA-Spectrum Hate Mail, GLSA/Spectrum, Archives & Special Collections, University of Lincoln-Libraries
• UNL GLSA Chronology, 1984-1985, RG 38-03-48, Box 1, GLSA Chronology 1984-1985, GLSA/Spectrum, University of Nebraska Lincoln Archives, Lincoln, NE
• Yang, Alan S. “Trends: Attitudes Toward Homosexuality.” The Public Opinion Quarterly 61, no. 3 (1997): 477–507. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2749583.