LavCal History

Recollecting Our Legacy

More than a century’s worth of UC queer lore — from 1882 to the early 21st century — has been documented and archived by “The Hidden History of the Berkeley Campus.” This fascinating tour of people, places, events, and dates is available thanks to library staff archivist Bill Benemann and collaborators.

For at least the last 30+ years, LGBTQ+ staff and faculty have been out and about on campus in various fashions befitting the times. A reminiscence, circa 1978 [Document available on LavCal Departmental as “Bruce Vermazen memoir.doc”], of earlier days of faculty convening is offered courtesy of emeritus professor of philosophy Bruce Vermazen. Collective organizing emerged with heightened visibility in 1989. The following capsule history is courtesy of staff member Cathy McIntosh:

“The LGBT organization that is now called LavenderCal was originally called LeGaSEE (pronounced "legacy"), which stood for Lesbian Gay Staff Empowerment and Enlightenment. LeGaSEE was co-founded by Jessea Greenman and Cathy McIntosh on October 11, 1989. After Cathy's speech at the National Coming Out Day rally in Sproul Plaza, flyers were distributed to interested staff members, and a flyer was sent to every department/unit listed in the campus directory (nearly 500). Within a couple of months, about 50 staff members had joined the organization. The co-founders sent those people a flyer featuring a map of the campus with a triangle indicating each person on the LeGaSEE mailing list (at least one in nearly every building), inviting them to a first meeting (an after-5:00 pm meeting held in a classroom). LeGaSEE became an officially registered/recognized staff organization and active member of the Council of Staff Organizations (CSO). Cathy served as LeGaSEE Coordinator on CSO while Jessea served a three-year term on the Chancellor's Staff Advisory Committee (CSAC). For a few years, "monthly" lunches gathered on the lawn by the Campanile (or other lawns on campus) and a newsletter was printed, but eventually only the email list continued.

In the mid/late 1990s, the name of the organization was changed to LeTsGaB/"Let's Gab" in order to include a "B" and a "T" in the name. In June 2004, the name was changed again to LavenderCal.” In 2019, the abbreviation of LavCal started being used synonymously with LavenderCal.”

Along the way, Cal faculty and staff activists have been instrumental in winning expanded non-discrimination protections, including domestic partner benefits, for the UC system. LavenderCal activists organized in response to Proposition 8, a California ballot measure that made same-sex marriage illegal in California. In recent years, LavenderCal volunteers held a series of noontime talks to provide information on pressing topics for LGBTQ+ staff and faculty members, such as legal assistance, health care, and understanding retirement options. The first Lavender Lunch was held in 2006, and has occurred every month since then thanks to the efforts of Victoria Williams. LavenderCal happy hours began appearing in 2007 and continue to this day.

In July 2018, Sharon Page-Medrich retired from UC Berkeley and her positions with LavenderCal as Volunteer Coordinator and representative to Council of Staff Organizations. In January 2019, Cat Ming Hubbard became the next Volunteer Coordinator and CSO representative. At this time new and seasoned volunteers alike came together to revitalize LavenderCal’s participation in events such as SummerFest, SF Pride, Oakland Pride, and regular monthly happy hours. Group officers were officially designated to serve and represent LavenderCal, which was a departure from the organic and informal leadership structure used in the past. This leadership team held their first official officer meeting during Fall Semester of 2019, with currently active volunteers in attendance as well. In 2021, LavenderCal's group officers implemented a steering committee model and held elections for the new Leadership Team for the first time in the organization's history. Elections for the Leadership Team are now held every year. LavenderCal's current Leadership Team works to continue LavenderCal’s legacy by building an inclusive community on campus for all LGBTQ+ staff faculty, postdocs, and visiting scholars. (Learn more about them here).

A Work in Progress

Can you recollect more chapters of LGBTQ activism, pioneering organizers, and sustaining community members at UC Berkeley in recent decades? Remember any vignettes of our history at Cal in the last 30+years? If so, send us your undocumented chapter of UC Berkeley’s community activism to lavcal@berkeley.edu.