The Serpentine Society, a network for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender alumni, celebrated its fifth anniversary with a three-day event coinciding with the University's Homecomings weekend.
The weekend's events included a tailgate party, a board meeting and a fifth anniversary celebration dinner and awards gala at Alumni Hall.
Saturday's banquet featured the presentation of the Bernard D. Mayes Award, which is given annually for excellence in public service to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community.
The award is named in honor of Bernard D. Mayes, a former University professor and College Dean who designed the Media Studies Program. His book, "Escaping God's Closet: The Revelations of a Gay Priest," was published by the University Press of Virginia in 2001.
This year's recipient was Joe Baker, chief of the Health Care Bureau of the Office of the New York State Attorney General.
As an undergrad, Baker led the Gay Student Union, now called the Queer Student Union. He received both his bachelor's and law degrees from the University.
Baker has worked extensively with Gay Men's Health Crisis, one of the first organizations to engage in AIDS education and advocacy.
In addition to honoring Baker, the weekend was addressed current students, offering insight from alumni who are successfully navigating an often homophobic society.
By the same token, alumni were able to witness a more tolerant University, said fifth-year Education student Anthony Whitten. Whitten is president of "Out on Rugby," a probationary gay fraternity.
"It provided a great opportunity to network and hear [alumni] stories," Whitten said.
This opportunity was particularly valuable because of some alumni's disinclination to revisit the University, Whitten said.
These alumni "may not have ever wanted to come back here again," he said.
Serpentine Society Co-Chair Brian Eley, who was not out as a University undergraduate, said such reluctance is common and is one of the reasons he founded the society.
"About half the people [in the society], especially those who attended the University in the early 90s and earlier, did not necessarily have the greatest experiences at the University or weren't out at all," Eley said.
The efforts of various student groups and administrators have changed the climate, however, Whitten said.
"It's a much different place now," Whitten said. "U.Va. is totally making a change and becoming more accepting -- that's why we have the Serpentine Society."
This changing climate and the efforts of the society's board have seen membership swell from eight members to approximately 500 in five years, Eley said.
Eley, who attributed the society's rapid growth to word of mouth and the help of the Alumni Association, said he felt the society had been fairly successful in informing alumni of its existence and now was strong enough to take on new challenges.
The Serpentine Society's philanthropy efforts currently center on the LGBTU resource center and there are plans in the works to create a scholarship fund for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, Eley said.
Future plans also include expanding the society's social aspect to include more opportunities for formal networking, Eley added.
"We're looking at getting more involved with current students to help them get jobs and internships," he said.
Alumni can answer questions for current students regarding the politics of being out in the workplace, Eley said.
"These alumni experiences are something that current students might be interested in," he said.
For Queer Student Union President Luke Ward, the weekend offered one such window into post-college life.
"A lot of current QSU members got to meet alumni who brought their families and partners, which was neat to see," Ward said.
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