Climate at Poly

During the 1980s and 1990s, there was no gay student union or visible queer life presence on campus at Poly. Unlike some other universities that began to see the emergence of Gay Straight Alliances (GSAs) or similar organizations in the wake of the Gay Liberation Movement and the Stonewall riots of 1969, Poly remained without any formal group or support network for LGBTQ+ students during this period. The absence of a gay student union meant that students who identified as LGBTQ+ most likely often felt isolated, lacking the community and resources that such organizations could provide. It was not until the 2000s that Poly saw the formation of a group dedicated to queer students in STEM fields, with the establishment of oSTEM (Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), which was founded nationally in 2009 and has since grown to over 100 chapters across the United States and the United Kingdom. Poly’s first gay student union was formed around 2007 under the supervision of staff member Peter Li, who was also a former Poly student during the 2000s (14).

What was present at Poly during the 1980s and 1990s, however, was a pervasive atmosphere of homophobia. This was a time when negative attitudes toward LGBTQ+ individuals were widespread in both society and academic environments, often exacerbated by sensationalist media coverage and the stigmatization of AIDS as a "gay disease". Homophobic rhetoric, discrimination, and a lack of institutional support contributed to a campus climate that was unwelcoming and, at times, openly hostile to queer students. Without a formal support system or advocacy group, many students were left to navigate these challenges on their own, further reinforcing feelings of exclusion and marginalization. The eventual creation of organizations like oSTEM marked a significant shift, providing both visibility and support for LGBTQ+ students in STEM and helping to foster a more inclusive campus environment in the years that followed.

“AIDS Victims Deserve It?” Article Published in an Oct. 31, 1990 issue of the Poly Reporter

This was one of the only archives I could find that addresses the queer community, albeit negatively, at Poly during the 80s-90s. It is a disgusting and homophobic article that was somehow allowed to be published at the Poly Institute in the 90s- it claims that gay pride is a deterioration of values, and reflects a hostile, homophobic environment present in Poly during the 90s- AIDS era and beyond. This article most likely wouldn’t be published in today’s sociopolitical climate, and I find it ironic that it is published as anonymous from a “concerned heterosexual”; the author won’t even own up to their own actions and words. Poly students who may have been gay/closeted at this time most likely felt unwelcomed.

This was most likely because the population at Poly was heteronormative and mostly male. On top of articles in the Poly Reporter speaking of misogyny, there’s no doubt that homophobia was also present. There was a large stigma that gay men were contagious with AIDS– Poly was still talking about AIDS/HIV, and many were scared to have sex in fear of getting ill (see image below).

This stigmatization was compounded by misinformation and fear, with many students believing that simply being near a gay person could put them at risk for AIDS, despite scientific evidence to the contrary. Such attitudes made it exceedingly difficult for queer students to come out or find support, and the lack of any formal LGBTQ+ organizations on campus meant there were few safe spaces or allies available. The combination of homophobic media, institutional silence, and AIDS panic created an environment where discrimination and ignorance were rarely challenged, and where queer students were left to navigate hostility on their own.

It is important to recognize that this hostile environment was not unique to Poly, but reflected a national and even international pattern of homophobia and AIDS-related stigma during this period. Only in more recent years, with increased awareness, activism, and education, have such attitudes been widely condemned and marginalized within academic spaces.

Poly Reporter issues from 1990

Such attitudes made it especially difficult to promote effective AIDS prevention and foster a culture of openness about sexual health. The reluctance to be honest about one’s sexual history or health status was likely fueled by the same misinformation and prejudice that allowed homophobic articles to be published and go unchallenged. For queer students, this environment would have been particularly isolating, as the lack of support and the presence of stigma made it risky to seek help or even discuss concerns openly.

This article was one of many established in the Poly Reporter that illustrates how misinformation, fear, and stigma around AIDS and sexuality were not just abstract issues, but directly influenced student behavior and campus culture. This further contributed to the sense of alienation and vulnerability experienced by LGBTQ+ students at Poly during the 1980s and 1990s.

Across the United States during this period, HIV/AIDS stigma was widespread and often resulted in blatant discrimination, not only in academic settings but also in workplaces, families, and healthcare environments. Misinformation about how HIV was transmitted led to irrational fears and the scapegoating of gay men, compounding the challenges faced by those living with the virus. Sensationalized media coverage and a lack of accurate public health messaging only amplified these fears, making it even harder for students to access reliable information or support. As a result, many LGBTQ+ individuals were further marginalized, sometimes even being excluded from their own communities and denied basic rights and recognition.

While some student organizations at other universities tried to distinguish between AIDS awareness and broader LGBTQ+ advocacy, the persistent association of AIDS as a "gay disease" made it nearly impossible to separate the two in public perception. This conflation reinforced harmful stereotypes and increased the burden on queer students, who not only had to contend with the medical realities of the epidemic but also with the social and political fallout.

Despite these challenges, the activism and resilience of LGBTQ+ communities eventually led to greater awareness and incremental changes in institutional responses. However, the legacy of stigma and misinformation from this era serves as a reminder of the importance of accurate education, supportive environments, and continued advocacy to ensure that history doesn't repeat itself. The climate at Poly in the 1980s and 1990s-shaped by fear, misinformation, and a lack of institutional support-underscores the critical need for inclusive policies and open dialogue to protect and empower all students, most likely making it difficult for queer students to come out.