Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Scientists (LAGLS) is an organization of professionals and students in the biological, mathematical, engineering, physical and social sciences meeting periodically throughout the Los Angeles area. Our purpose is to provide a peer group setting for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender scientists, and to heighten the awareness of queers and non-queers to the presence of l/g/b/t people in the scientific community. Membership is open to all who support our goals.
LAGLS, originally known as Los Angeles Gay Scientists (LAGS), started in 1979 when a gay botany professor and some of his colleagues decided to throw a dinner party for gay scientists in the Los Angeles area. The event was advertised on flyers distributed in the local bars (because, after all, that’s where queers congregated in those days), and over 50 people attended! Exclaimed one attending botanist, “I hardly know any other BOTANISTS, and now I’ve met 3 other GAY botanists!” The rest is history.
LAGLS is a founder, organizer, and regional group of the National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals (NOGLSTP). NOGLSTP is a tax-exempt educational organization. LAGLS members are now also NOGLSTP members. NOGLSTP’s goals include dialog with professional organizations; providing information; improving members’ employment and professional environment; opposing homophobia and stereotypes; educating the queer, scientific, and general communities; and fostering inter-city contacts among members. For more information about NOGLSTP, contact the LAGLS office for a brochure, or point your web browser to The NOGLSTP Website.