History & landmarks / Ann Arbor
U-M Human Sexuality Office / Spectrum Center
Opened in 1971 in the Michigan Union, the first office of its kind at any US university still serves LGBTQ+ students as the Spectrum Center.
01 / The story of this place
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In 1971 the University of Michigan opened a Human Sexuality Office in the Michigan Union, the first office of its kind at any American university. Its first staff members were Jim Toy and Cynthia Gair. Now called the Spectrum Center, it has supported LGBTQ+ students for more than 50 years. The original Union site at 530 S. State St is the first stop on the Ann Arbor District Library's LGBTQ+ walking tour.
- First campus LGBTQ office in the US (1971)
- First staff: Jim Toy and Cynthia Gair
- Stop 1 on the AADL LGBTQ+ Walking Tour
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Sources & fact check · Checked: 2026-09-25
An independently written bilingual guide. This collection is not an attendance-based ranking.
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