I think we announced that the dance would begin at 9pm. At 9:15 there was nobody around but a few frat boys hoping to check out some poofs. I got a can of coke from a vending machine, gave it to the DJ, and said, get the music “Let’s started!” The first admitted was a carful of boys who [came] down from Kansas we were then eight [people]. The vastness University’s homosexual alliance. So of the ballroom loomed. Around 9:30 my children started coming in. Nobody counted, but I bet there were over 300. We were fabulous! The music, the sweat on the dance floor, the smoke, the vibe that this was something new, the mix, the camaraderie, the funky moves, and the outfits combined to create a memorable, magical night. Everybody have another event. asked when we’d was the start of the [Student Homophile Association] at Wichita State This University (Gardenhire Email). SHA remained active after its inaugural dance. According to a 1977 article in The the group reported that their purpose was to: Sunflower, to end discrimination against all homosexuals, organize forums on …work discussions on homosexuality, act as a communication channel to administration, faculty, and other students, to organize social and recreational activities, and to promote legal aid, peer counseling, and other supportive services for gays (Linder). Gary fondly recalls and where members came out, weekly men’s women’s freeform rap sessions shared their experiences and wishes for the future, and discussed what was going on politically in
I think we announced that the dance would begin at 9pm. At 9:15 there was nobody around but a few frat boys hoping to check out some poofs. I got a can of coke from a vending machine, gave it to the DJ, and said, “Let’s get the music started!” The first admitted was a carful of boys who [came] down from Kansas University’s homosexual alliance. So we were then eight [people]. The vastness of the ballroom loomed. Around 9:30 my children started coming in. Nobody counted, but I bet there were over 300. We were fabulous! The music, the sweat on the dance floor, the smoke, the vibe that this was something new, the mix, the camaraderie, the funky moves, and the outfits combined to create a memorable, magical night. Everybody asked when we’d have another event. This was the start of the [Student Homophile Association] at Wichita State University (Gardenhire Email). SHA remained active after its inaugural dance. According to a 1977 article in The Sunflower, the group reported that their purpose was to: …work to end discrimination against all homosexuals, organize forums on discussions on homosexuality, act as a communication channel to administration, faculty, and other students, to organize social and recreational activities, and to promote legal aid, peer counseling, and other supportive services for gays (Linder). Gary fondly recalls weekly men’s and women’s freeform rap sessions where members came out, shared their experiences and wishes for the future, and discussed what was going on politically in