A Virginia university fought against its first gay student group — and lost. Now it’s honoring them

Virginia Commonwealth University leaders tried more than 50 years ago to prevent the formation of their school’s first gay student group. Now, the organization’s history will be honored with a historical marker.

VCU will unveil the commemorative marker on campus in October, according to Richmond ABC affiliate WRIC. It will recount the history of VCU’s Gay Alliance of Students, which was founded in 1974. The university initially rejected the organization’s application for official recognition, leading to a two-year court battle that ended with a federal appeals court ruling that the school had violated the students’ constitutional rights.

The landmark Gay Alliance of Students v. Matthews decision opened the door for similar student organizations at colleges and universities throughout the federal judicial circuit that includes Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and West Virginia. The organization has celebrated the 50th anniversary of its court victory throughout the last year.

Related: Emails reveal Virginia school officials approved an LGBTQ+ club — until conservative backlash hit

The commemoration will culminate with a gala and an October 16 unveiling of the historical marker, whose text has been approved by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources:

“A group of students at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond established in September 1974 the Gay Alliance of Students, the university’s first openly LGBTQ+ student organization. A legal battle that attracted local and national support for the Alliance ensued after VCU rejected its application for official recognition. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled in Gay Alliance of Students v. Matthews in October 1976 that VCU’s refusal to recognize the organization violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. The court’s decision set a legal precedent. It extended protections to similar student groups in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and West Virginia.”

Related: A rural Virginia school board changed its rules to block an LGBTQ+ club. Students are suing in federal court

The half-century-old fight echoes today in another federal courtroom in Richmond. Two students and their families sued the King George County School Board this month after officials blocked a proposed Gay-Straight Alliance at King George Middle School while continuing to allow other noncurricular groups.

The lawsuit alleges that officials repeatedly changed the rules in response to opposition to the GSA, violating the students’ First Amendment rights and the federal Equal Access Act. The families are asking a judge to order the district to allow the organization to operate on the same terms as other student groups.

Related: A Virginia school board bent over backward to block an LGBTQ+ club. One mom explains why she’s suing

University officials hope the marker will signal that VCU welcomes everyone — decades after its leaders tried to deny LGBTQ+ students official representation.

“I hope that when students and alumni see this marker, they understand that VCU is for everyone, and that students’ voices and alumni voices matter,” said Josh Leidy, director of affinity programs in VCU’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations, in a statement released by VCU. “The Gay Alliance of Students case only came about because students had the courage to stand up and advocate for what needed to happen for the community.”