Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Gay Alliance of Students
In Sept. 1974, a group of students at Virginia Commonwealth University founded the Gay Alliance of Students, the university's first openly LGBTQ+ student organization. VCU rejected the Alliance's application for official recognition, prompting a legal battle that attracted local and national support for the local group. In Oct. 1976, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled in Gay Alliance of Students v. Matthews that VCU's refusal to recognize the organization violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments. The decision set a legal precedent, extending protections to similar student groups in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and West Virginia.
Erected 2026 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number SA-144.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Civil Rights • Education. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1974.
Location. 37° 32.757′ N, 77° 27.229′ W. Marker is in Richmond, Virginia. It is in Virginia Commonwealth University. It
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Central Virginia. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: John B. Fenn (within shouting distance of this marker); Monroe Park (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (about 800 feet away); a different marker also named Monroe Park (approx. 0.2 miles away); Jacob House (approx. ¼ mile away); Founders Hall (approx. ¼ mile away); Richmond Professional Institute (approx. ¼ mile away); The Equal Suffrage League of Virginia
Another marker is no longer nearby. Richmond Howitzers Monument (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been permanently removed).
Additional keywords. LGBT; LGBTQ; 🏳️🌈
Credits. This page was last revised on October 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 18, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 17 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 18, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
