Â
Name: Alysa Hodgson
Year: Fifth-year Senior Â
Major: Women’s and Gender Studies with a minor in LGBTQ and Sexuality Studies
Hometown: Mason, Mich.
Â
The Alliance of Queer and Ally Students has remained as one of the oldest existing LGBT student organizations in the country. The club has a long history of involvement on MSU’s campus; it’s roots can be traced back to the 1970’s. It is a part of the Associated Students of Michigan State University (ASMSU) council, and it offers their voices in both a political and on-campus forum under the student government of MSU.
Â
What is your position within the Alliance of Queer and Ally Students? I am the ASMSU Representative for Alliance. ASMSU is our undergraduate student government, and I fill the seat on behalf of the LGBTQ population on campus.
What kind of responsibilities does your position entail? I am responsible for writing bills & resolutions, discussing policy, attending committee meetings, voting on bills and resolutions, and participating in dialogue that spans students, faculty, staff and administration. I do this all while being supervised by the rest of Alliance’s executive board and my constituents.
How were you inspired to join the Alliance? I joined Alliance because I have come into my queer identity in the last couple years, and I was looking for community and people who are like me. I am also attracted to the activism that the group has the capability to inspire, and I enjoy participating in policy discussion with minority needs in mind.
What kind of events or action do you take on campus as part of The Alliance? Alliance is the group that funds a delegation of students to MBGLTACC, or the Midwest Bisexual Gay Lesbian Trans Ally College Conference. MBGLTACC is largest LGBT college conference in the country with nearly 2,000 attendees from across the country each year.
While most people know of us because of MBGLTACC, Alliance is part of the CORES-COPS groups. We have a voice in policy setting within MSU and local government. We work closely with Students for Gender Equality at East Lansing High School and are formulating plans to continue that outreach into other high schools and the East Lansing City Council. We have undertaken an #AllGenderMSU project, where we will be advocating for a smarter, safer campus in regards to gender diversity. Some aspects of #AllGenderMSU include: ensuring all new building projects have all gender restrooms, ensuring the LGBTQ & Sexuality Studies program is secure within the College of Arts and Letters, encouraging Registered Student Organizations to instill conscious pronoun use with their membership, educating all Spartans about the gender spectrum, and ironing out the kinks in Michigan State’s preferred name policy.
What political action have you taken to increase awareness for the LGBT Community? We work alongside the LBGT Resource Center on campus to plan and implement the Mosaic Awards and Lavender Reception. At this event, outstanding LGBT organizations and students are recognized for their impact on campus. This event also congratulates graduating LGBT students. I believe it is very political to be out as LGBT, working within or outside of community on pertinent topics, and then taking a podium and accepting an award for the work put in. Many people would prefer if we were closeted, but at Michigan State, we aim to create a cultural climate that allows our community to be out and proud.
How can someone get involved in The Alliance? Attend our meetings, be present in conversations, be dedicated, and just care a whole lot about the LGBT community. We currently have open board positions, and would love to see a fresh person (or anyone else) fill a seat!
What is your favorite memory from being on the Alliance? My favorite Alliance memory is being involved in a Sex in the Dark Event with ELHS students last spring. Alliance advocates for consensual, inclusive, and open-hearted conversations about sex and sexuality, and we really got to implement those values at that event. We had nearly 40 high school students attend and actively engage in an anonymous, open conversation about expanding their knowledge of safe sex practice. A lot of great learning went on that night, for everyone!
What are your future hopes and goals for the group? I hope that Alliance is able to open dialogue about the importance of breaking down gender binaries and gender expectations for all of Michigan State. While this will directly benefit the LGBT student population, it will benefit cisgender and heterosexual students as well. I want Alliance to be seen as a driving force for this cultural change on campus, alongside the other LGBT student organizations. None of us are free until all of us are free.