Who is the IAGC?

The Intercollegiate Adventist Gay-Straight Alliance Coalition* is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to creating safe spaces on Seventh-day Adventist** college and university campuses for our LGBT+ students.*** You can read more about our 2016-2017 IAGC leadership on our Officer Bios page. 

* IAGC; ** SDA; *** Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and more

Why does this matter?

To be frank, many of us would not be here today if it were not for the support groups currently at our campuses. They became our families and gave us the space to be ourselves without fear. However, too few LGBT+ students walking onto our campuses today know about these unofficial support communities. Research demonstrates that as LGBT+ youth, we are already at higher risk for suicide than other groups, especially since we come from a Christian environment (Bagley & Trembly, 2000; Yarhouse & Tan, 2005). 

Therefore, the IAGC seeks to accomplish the following:

• Raise awareness for LGBT+ youth and the issues we face on our campuses
• Initiate dialogue among administration, faculty, students, and the wider community about how we can create safe and loving spaces on our campuses. We need the opportunity to come together as a church family to openly and lovingly discuss the complex intersections of faith, gender, and sexuality.

Which campuses are involved?

Currently, the IAGC works on SDA college and university campuses across North America. At the moment, the following campuses have unofficial student groups:

• AULL4One - Andrews University
• Beacon - Union College
• GASP - Pacific Union College
• PRISM - La Sierra University
• SHIELD - Southern Adventist University
• Will and Grace Collegiate - Burman University
• ...with more campuses forming groups

What will IAGC do with these funds?

Our minimum goal* is to raise $5,000. Here's what we want to do with it: 

• Rent out screening sites at five or more Adventist campuses. Fund the transportation costs for either the film/play producers or an IAGC representative to personally attend and moderate the screenings and discussions.
  • Since films and plays about personal stories are beautiful ways to open space for productive dialogue, we plan to host screenings of Enough Room at the Table, A Gay SDA Play, or Seventh-Gay Adventists on/near our campuses starting January 2017.
• Produce informational materials (posters, brochures, videos of students sharing stories, etc) to spread the word about our campus support groups.
  • As none of our GSAs are allowed to be official campus organizations (as of yet), we critically need creative advertising in order for LGBT+ students to find out about these support systems.
• Create emergency funds for GSAs across our campuses for students facing urgent needs created by their LGBT+ identity and surrounding environment. 
  • Several times we have had to find housing and give financial assistance to LGBT+ students if their families cut them off. Therefore, we are raising funds to bolster the IAGC and the various support groups' ability to comprehensively address our students' needs (like homelessness or lack of financial help).
• Create scholarships to fund our IAGC and support group leaders in attending transformative conferences and workshops (such as The Gay Christian Network, The Reformation Project, and Camp Pride) where they can develop skills on how to support LGBT+ students.
• Assist with the annual organizational fees of the IAGC (such as website fees and advertising costs).
• Help with expenses incurred in hosting the annual IAGC Summit in 2017, a gathering of all the IAGC officers and current/future student group leaders. 

Every dollar counts. Any and all personal contributions help. Feel free to email us at information@iagcadventist.com you have any questions or comments. 

*As an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, flexible-funding (where funds are retained whether the campaign goal is met or not) is the only option given by Indiegogo. As a nationally registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the IAGC guarantees that all donations received will be solely used for the items listed above, and full disclosure will be given to any individual inquiring concerning how funds are used. The IAGC will also send tax-deductible receipts to its donors.

Funds are sent by Indiegogo in the form of a check deposit into the IAGC business account, which is supervised by and reported on by the SDA Kinship liaison to the IAGC. As an international nonprofit organization that has been supporting LGBT+ Adventists for decades, SDA Kinship will help oversee this process. The IAGC will then send the money to our various campus support groups, so they can host the screenings/discussions and perform the other activities listed above.

What are other ways I can help?

Even if you are unable to contribute financially, there are other ways in which you can help further support our LGBT+ students:

• Ask your family and friends if they know of any LGBT+ students and if they have heard of the IAGC and the campus support groups.
• Share this campaign with family and friends (please use the Indiegogo SHARE tools).
• STANDout for love and compassion in your churches, schools, and communities. Participate in our #STANDout Day (information included below). 
• Visit our website to find more ways you can help.

#STANDout Day - Thurs, October 27