About this Event
Celebrate the Spectrum Center 55th Anniversary Gayla with Us!
Join us to celebrate the the history of the University of Michigan Spectrum Center at the 55th Anniversary Gayla! This special in-person event will take place on October 10, 2026 at 7:00 PM (EDT) at 500 E Stadium Blvd.
Celebrate over five decades of community, pride, and progress with us in an evening filled with joy and togetherness. The Gayla is a ticketed opening celebration of Spectrum Center’s 55th anniversary year featuring dancing, stories of community and belonging, and live performances, including a set by friend of Spectrum Center, singer-songwriter, and author Mike Maimone. The Gayla will also feature the debut of The Spectrum Center Belonging Project, a photo exhibition highlighting the many ways Spectrum Center creates a sense of belonging for members of the University community. We hope you will join us for this milestone celebration!
Tickets are limited - please RSVP today!
About the 55th Anniversary
The Spectrum Center 55th Anniversary Celebration–55 Years of Action and Resilience–will be held across the 2026–2027 academic year. Spectrum Center is the first gender and sexuality center to be created on a college or university campus. Since our founding, the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor has been at the forefront of LGBTQIA2S+ equity, inclusion, and belonging in U.S. higher education. From the development of Lavender Graduation to our early adoption of inclusive nondiscrimination statements to inclusive policies related to housing, athletics, facilities, names, and pronouns, we have established our campus as a place where queer and trans students can thrive. This year of celebration will explore the history of the center and the stories of LGBTQIA2S+ faculty, staff, students, and alumnx.
Unable to attend, but still interested in supporting Spectrum Center?
Contribute to the mission of Spectrum Center by donating today. Your contribution will support the thriving of 2SLGBTQIA+ students at U-M and help Spectrum Center preserve our legacy and secure our future. You can give a one-time donation or set-up monthly donations. Until July 2027, anyone making a new monthly gift will be matched for 12 months up to $100 per month. If you make your gift monthly, you could double your impact!
Event venue & nearby stays
500 E Stadium Blvd, 500 East Stadium Boulevard, Ann Arbor, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.