Recognition of the UCD Gay & Lesbian Society (March 1990)
The UCD LGBTQ+ Society is one of the most active and popular groups on campus. They have a membership of over 1,000 students, run events daily (including a number of collaborative events) and maintain an office on the Societies Corridor of the Student Centre. Looking at the Society today, it can be easy to forget the challenges they faced when seeking recognition in the 1970’s.
The Sexual Liberation Movement (SLM) that first meet in Trinity College in 1973 was a part of the burgeoning gay rights movement in Ireland where same-sex sexual activity was to remain illegal till 1993. While the group was short lived, it’s influence was far reaching. SLM’s activism and the community that it created, particularly amongst students, undoubtedly played a big part helping to establish the Gay Society in Trinity College. However, it was not until 1983 that the Central Societies Committee (CSC) granted formal recognition to the Dublin University Gay Society. This was the first gay student society to be granted institutional approval in Ireland.
In Trinity, the CSC grants recognition to student societies on behalf of the Board (the governing authority of Trinity College Dublin). UCD has a similar process that sees the Societies Council grants recognition to student soceities on behalf of the Academic Council. This was not always the case. Originally, prospective societies would write directly to the President to seek recognition. Later both the President and the Student Representative Council (SRC) needed to approve any new society. At some point this process changed (most likely around the time that the SRC was disolved and replaced by a Students’ Union in 1975) and societies were required to write to the College Registrar in order to seek recognition directly from the Academic Council.
The first application from students in UCD seeking recognition of the UCD Gay & Lesbian Society was considered by the Academic Council in 1977. The Society was not approved.
Between 1977 and 1989 the Society was considered on eight occassions:
June 1977 - not approved
October 1977 - decision deferred
November 1977 - not approved
November 1978 - decision deferred
December 1978 - not approved
November 1983 - not approved
March 1988 - not approved (vote 19 for; 23 against)
March 1989 - not approved (vote 20 for; 23 against)
Taken from minutes of the Academic Council (5 March 1990)
By 1989, UCC had approved a similar society and one had been established in NUIG, though the College had not been asked to approve the Society.
When the Academic Council meet on 5 March 1990 an application was once again considered. The Registrar, Dr. John Kelly, advised the Council members that the proposed constitution ‘appeared to be in order’ and that ‘he had been advised by the College Solicitor that the provisions therein did not contravene the law.’ He noted that a ‘substantial volume of correspondence’ and a petition signed by approximately 2,000 students had been received in support of recognition of the Society. In added that a ‘letter against recognition of the Society, signed by ten members of the teaching staff of the College, has also been received’.
After a ‘wide ranging’ discussion it was decided to hold a straw poll to see if the Council wished to have a formal vote on the question of recognition. This indicated a majority in favour. Following this, the Academic Council decided that its decision to recognise the Society be recorded as follows:
‘The Academic Council agreed without a vote to recognise the Gay and Lesbian Society. The was the prevailing view of the Council although there was a substantial body of opinion which held a contrary view.’
Three members of the Academic Council wished to be recorded as being opposed to the recognition of the Gay and Lesbian Society.
In addition it was suggested that:
‘In the context of the wide ranging discussion on the recognition of College Societies it was suggested that it might he timely for the Academic Council to reconsider its role in this matter.
This was agreed.
Sources:
Trinity News, ‘Q Soc: A history of refuge, rights and recognition‘, 30 March 2020 (accessed 18 Feb, 2022)
UCD Student Forum Archive: Extract From Minutes of the Academic Council, 5 March 1990