The Orbis

Issue date: 9/11/07 Section: News/Features

Until this year, the Vanderbilt Lambda Association has been the only LGBT organization that catered to the needs of undergraduates. With the establishment of a Vanderbilt chapter of the nationally renowned Human Rights Campaign, an equal rights advocacy group, one might wonder why Vanderbilt needs two undergraduate organizations dealing with LGBT issues.

In response, Nick Wells, former president of Lambda and founding president of Vanderbilt HRC, would ask why Vanderbilt undergrads should be limited to just one LGBT group. Stanford University, ranked by The Princeton Review as one of the best in LGBT life - a category in which Vanderbilt has consistently ranked low - has 14 different undergrad groups.

Rankings aside, one must recognize that the varying needs of a movement as diverse and complex as the LGBT movement (and those with gender and sexual identities that fall outside of the LGBT label), cannot be fully addressed under one broad-based association. Lambda, since its foundation, has tried to be everything for everyone. Although it is doubtless that both Lambda and Vanderbilt HRC share the same goal of improving LGBT life on campus, they approach it in different, but equally important, ways. The question then becomes how Vanderbilt HRC will distinguish itself from Lambda and how the organizations can benefit from each other's existence.

It takes one look at Lambda's programming to understand the diversity of its membership and goals.

Klint Peebles, president of Lambda, explains, "Our main goal is to simply make sure that everyone, no matter who they are, gay or straight, feels comfortable on campus."

Indeed, Lambda supports its mission with a wide variety of programming. Its most well-known event on campus, the Drag Show, has grown from a small event tucked away on campus to an extravaganza on Alumni Lawn and a part of Vanderbilt tradition. This year, the show will grow even larger, as the closer of the Vanderbilt Rainbow Review, an entire week of pride events scheduled for May. Although the Drag Show is Lambda's most recognizable event and an important part of LGBT culture, Peebles is quick to underline that Lambda is not just about drag shows. Outreach, education, support, social events and exploration of political issues are all indispensable pillars to Lambda's cause. This year, Lambda will reach out to incoming freshmen by visiting dorms for meet-and-greets and information sessions. The group also spreads awareness through educational events covering political and social issues.

Continued...

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