Whitman College Coalition Against Homophobia records

Collection

Identifier: WCA-144

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Whitman College Coalition Against Homophobia Records houses the organizational records of the student group Coalition Against Homophobia (CAH). This collection dates from approximately 1992 to 2006, with the bulk of the materials from 2000 to 2006. The collection includes a binder created by alum Jessie Elisberg, that holds Elisberg’s notes on the history of CAH, budget documents, CAH’s traditions and typical events, copies of CAH’s 2003 constitution and listserv etiquette, and documents on planning events. Also included are newspaper clippings about CAH, and resources from CAH and the New Zealand LGBTQ student group UniQ that Elisberg collected.

Dates

Creation: 2002-2014
Creation: Majority of material found within 2000-2006

Creator

Whitman College. Coalition Against Homophobia (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Historical Note

Coalition Against Homophobia (CAH) was created in 1992 by Professor Bob Tobin, Counselor Sharon Kaufman-Osborn, and student Alexis Cofield, to be the activist and public counterpart to the confidential LGBTQ support group, Gay Lesbian Association. Unlike GLA, CAH was funded by ASWC, the student government, and included both LGBTQ students and allies. CAH took the lead on LGBTQ activism and LGBTQ-focused events at Whitman, holding popular events like LesBiGay Week, Rainbow Rage, and DragFest, as well as smaller events like lectures and panels. The group was led by student presidents and advised by staff and faculty. Many of these programs became large social events for the Whitman community and were continued in some form until around 2016. In 2013, Coalition Against Homophobia changed its name to Coalition for Gender and Sexuality Awareness. The student group stopped meeting after that year, and GLBTQ (formerly known as GLA) took over as the major LGBTQ activist and social group on campus.

Extent

0.2 Linear Feet (1 manuscript box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Coalition Against Homophobia (CAH) was created in 1992 at Whitman College to be the activist and public counterpart to the confidential LGBTQ support group, Gay Lesbian Association. The Whitman College Coalition Against Homophobia Records houses the organizational records of the student group Coalition Against Homophobia (CAH) dating from 1992 to 2006.