We’ve come a long way in 35 years…
The Rice Gay/Lesbian Support Group has been a viable, though not highly visible campus organization since its inception and recognition by the Student Association in the 1979-80 academic year. It counted with the support of a faculty advisor and was represented to the University by an Executive Committee consisting of five members.
The purpose of the RG/LSG is summarized by the word “support.” First, it sought to provide support to members through many group activities. Some of these included “rap” groups, speakers on topics of concern, social events, cooperative efforts with gay organizations on other campuses, and seeing that Fondren Library secured unbiased literature on gay people and gay lifestyles. Second, it tried to make its presence known on campus – for example, through announcements of meetings in the Thresher and the sponsoring of panel discussions in several popular Psychology, Sociology, and P.E. courses. Through these efforts, it hoped to educate the Rice community on gay and lesbian issues, and to affirm the motto: “A Part Of – Not Apart From.”
RG/LSG was formed in 1979, the same year as the first Houston Pride Parade. As indicated by the closet door on the organization’s seal, it was a few more years before many of the members felt comfortable coming out. This image from the 1983 Rice yearbook, replete with humorous pseudonyms and bags on heads to preserve anonymity, is a far cry from the pride displayed by members of the group in its various later incarnations and off-shoots (Gays and Lesbians of Rice – GALOR, Rice PRIDE, GATHER, and the present day Rice Alumni Pride or “RAP” and Queers & Allies or “Q&A”).
In 2017, the two LGBT+ organizations on campus Q&A and QRC combined to create Rice PRIDE.