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Since National Coming Out Day in October, the "Love = Love" T-shirts given out on the West Campus Plaza have become a ubiquitous item around the University. But the LGBT presence on campus extends beyond ads for Fabulous Fridays and National Coming Out Day.

The community is also represented by a select although relatively unknown group of advocates known as the LGBT Task Force that works with many on-campus organizations. The Task Force implements recommendations for change in the University-wide environment in support of LGBT students, staff and faculty.

Most recently, the group-which includes students, faculty and staff-asserted its presence in January by teaming with Residence Life and Housing Services to establish a gender-neutral restroom in Kilgo Quadrangle for next Fall.

The decision is in part a result of the recent expansion of the University's nondiscrimination policy to include "gender identity" and change "sexual preference" to "sexual orientation."

"We are [currently] supporting focus groups for LGBT faculty to learn more about issues and challenges facing them and what we can do to help improve the climate in our academic setting," said Nancy Allen, vice provost for faculty diversity and faculty development, who is working with the Task Force on these issues.

The Task Force was established in 1991 by former president Keith Brodie in response to the Board of Trustees' 1989 decision to amend the nondiscrimination policy to include "sexual preference."

Task Force Co-chair Damon Seils, a senior research analyst for the Duke Clinical Research Institute, said the diverse group has since worked with the Office of the President, Human Resources, the Office of Student Affairs and Chapel administrators on various LGBT policies.

"The Task Force recruits new members every year, depending on the constituencies that need greater representation," he said.

Since its founding, the Task Force has reached many milestones in campus awareness and policy changes, Seils said, noting the adoption of "same-sex spousal equivalent benefits" for University and Duke University Health System employees and the establishment of the LGBT Center.

Unlike the center, which mainly focuses on awareness and social opportunities for LGBT students, the Task Force actively seeks campus-wide reform on gender issues, said Janie Long, the center's director and a Task Force member.

"They are not just a group of people who sit around making decisions in isolation," she said.

Efforts exclusive to the Task Force include establishing appropriate services for students, staff and faculty and developing educational programs for the entire Duke community.

In 1996, for example, the Task Force worked with the Arts and Sciences Council to approve a program in the Study of Sexualities. Four years later, with the committee's counsel, the Chapel began to allow same-sex union ceremonies.

The group also joined Long and the Center in the North Carolina Pride Parade, the North Carolina Equality Conference and National Coming Out Day events on the West Campus Plaza.

Although Seils said he is satisfied with the Task Force's progress so far, he added that it is now focusing on improving the University climate for LGBT faculty.

"Undergraduate, graduate and professional students and alumni all have the opportunity to evaluate practices and contribute to the University's diversity," he said.