October 15, 2026 | In the news
By Shelby Edison
On October 10th, the U-M Golf Course Postma Family Clubhouse transformed into a glittering, colorful, and joyful gala in honor of the Spectrum Center’s 55th anniversary. Disco balls shimmered on pink tablecloths. Guests strolled in wearing colorful suits, patterned dresses, velvet capes, and other showstopping outfits. Attendees sipped their drinks while laughing and connecting with each other. Throughout the evening, the dancefloor filled as songs from throughout the Spectrum Center’s history played. The evening celebrated Spectrum Center, the first gender and sexuality center on a university campus in the U.S., on its anniversary.
The Spectrum Center’s 55th Anniversary “Gayla”—a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community— welcomed donors, colleagues and friends of the Center, and Spectrum Center staff for a night of celebration. The Gayla emphasized the importance of the Spectrum Center’s programming and support for students of all genders and sexualities. Throughout the evening, guests heard about the positive impact of the Spectrum Center and its various funds, including the Trans Belonging Fund and Howard Bragman Coming Out Fund. Speakers talked about the strengths of the Spectrum Center from its emphasis on fostering community to commemorating the achievements of LGBTQ+ students to paving the way forward for other campus gender and sexuality centers. State Representative Jason Morgan and U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell honored Spectrum Center with a State of Michigan Special Tribute and recognition in the U.S. Congressional Record for its decades of service to LGBTQ+ students.
The Gayla also marked the launch of The Belonging Project. This special project shines a spotlight on the people who have made Spectrum Center what it is today. Pairing portraits taken by MFA candidate William Hohe with creative narratives of each participant’s relationship with Spectrum Center, the Belonging Project provides a glimpse at the resilience and pride of the community. The vibrant portraits decorated the walls at the Gayla as guests read the stories, admired the artwork, and even posed in front of their images. Participants of the Belonging Project spoke throughout the event. Daniel Chavez was one of these speakers. “I feel privileged that this center and the people who work there have seen my growth and the man I’m becoming and the man I am. I hope the center can do the same for other people,” he said.
Singer, songwriter, and author Mike Maimone performed in honor of his late husband, Howard Bragman. Bragman was a longtime advocate for LGBTQ+ communities and Spectrum Center, and Maimone has carried on his legacy of inclusion and advocacy as a friend of the center. On performing at the Gayla in honor of Bragman, Maimone said, “It was an honor to be included in the Spectrum Center's 55th Anniversary Gala. The organization was near and dear to Howard's heart, as it gave him the courage to enter his adult life out and proud, laying the foundation upon which he built his legendary career. Sharing a bit of our story in a place that he loved was very special to me, and I cherished hearing from Jesse and others who worked with and admired Howard.”
READ MORE: Learn about the legacy and impact of friend-of-the-Center, Howard Bragman
At the end of the evening, Dr. Ronni Sanlo, former director of U-M’s Lesbian Gay Bisexual Programs Office and creator of Lavender Graduation, led the crowd in a toast to honor the enduring legacy of Spectrum Center. Supporters, students, and community members alike raised their glasses in honor of the progress Spectrum Center has paved and the work fostering inclusion that is yet to come. “The 55th Anniversary Gayla was a joyful reminder of how far our LGBTQIA2S+ communities have come—and of the work still ahead. The story of Spectrum Center is the story of generations of students, alumnx, faculty, and staff working and striving to build a campus community that allows each of us to be more authentically who we are. We celebrated not only the center’s history, but also the courage, tenacity, care, and collective action that continue to shape a more inclusive future at the University of Michigan and beyond,” said Spectrum Center Director Jesse Beal.
The Gayla marked the beginning of a year of celebrations for the center’s 55th anniversary. The Center will soon be inviting the university community and the public to a Voices of Action and Resilience Alumnx Panel which will take place in February. The anniversary will culminate with a LGBTQIA2S+ Activism and Civic Engagement Teach-In in April. The Spectrum Center community looks forward to celebrating this milestone and welcoming students, staff, faculty, and community members to learn more about the work they do.