Events

Save the date! Our May shows will be all about heroes–everyday and super-powered people!

On Saturday, May 21 at 4:00 p.m., join us at the Michigan League for a festive gala to celebrate the legacy, impact, and vision of the nation’s first on-campus office for the LGBTQ+ community. Pink tie attire (think fun and festive) encouraged!

The event includes a panel discussion exploring the question: What does a thriving LGBTQ+ community at Michigan look like in the next 50 years?, followed by a reception with hors d’oeuvres, themed cocktails, and live music. 

Featured panelists include Michigan alumni Robert Hartwell (Founder and Artistic Director, The Broadway Collective), Chris Kolb (Vice President for Government Relations, University of Michigan), and S. Kerene Moore (Judicial Attorney, 22nd Circuit Court in Washtenaw County).

To register for the 50th Anniversary Gala, CLICK HERE. Please RSVP by Tuesday, May 17.

You’re invited to join the Spectrum Center for the Jim Toy Celebration of Liberation, happening Friday, May 20 at 7:00 p.m. at the Michigan Theater. This event is an opportunity for community and friends to come together to honor Jim Toy, who passed away on New Year’s Day. Jim was co-founder of the Spectrum Center, and his legacy has been felt deeply across campus.

Registration for the event is optional. Members of the community are also encouraged to use the registration form to submit their memories of Jim. As per the policy of Michigan Theater, all attendees will be required to mask and show proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID test within 72 hours.

As a queer, Asian American activist, Jim inspired those who knew him and knew of him. He sparked a rebel flame, urging us to continue to question authority, make space for those most vulnerable, and speak out against injustice whenever and wherever we encounter it. Jim graduated from the School of Social Work in 1981 with a Master of Social Work degree, and the University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree at its 2021 Spring Commencement.

In Gallery at UMMA: August 21, 2021 — February 20, 2022

Join us for the launch of the The University of Michigan LGBTQ+ Oral History Project (OHP). We will be hosting a panel consisting of OHP project team members, interviewees, and experienced oral historians. This is a hybrid event that will have in-person and remote options.

During the homecoming football game against Rutgers, the Michigan Marching Band will be celebrating 50 years of the Spectrum Center with their halftime performance. Purchase tickets.

This is a joint conversation focused on 50 years of LGBTQ+ activism and philanthropy at Michigan, featuring David Bohnett, Founder of Baroda Ventures (MBA, Stephen M. Ross School of Business), and facilitated by Will Sherry, Director of the Spectrum Center.