About Our Organization

Mission Statement
Broad Spectrum Veterinary Student Association’s mission is to connect, support and empower community for LGBT+* students and allies across veterinary education.
*LGBT + will be used as an inclusive acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer,Questioning, Asexual and others who self-identify on the sexual orientation and/or gender expression continuums.

Vision Statement
Broad Spectrum desires greater support and a sense of community for all LGBT+ students and allies throughout veterinary medical education. We actively strive to counter episodes of bigotry and marginalization with positive messages of diversity and inclusion. We have healthy, supportive and encouraging relationships with pre-veterinary, veterinary and graduate students, faculty, staff and administrators. We are known for advocating for the respect and equality of seen and unseen LGBT+ members in the academic veterinary community and beyond. We contribute to the development of safe and welcoming veterinary school environments for pre- and current veterinary students. Broad Spectrum makes veterinary schools more inclusive for all students, especially LGBT+ students. We accomplish this by starting important and courageous conversations about LGBT+ inclusion, in addition to maintaining much needed support for LGBT+ students in veterinary medicine.

Our History

We were founded in 2011 at the SAVMA Symposium hosted by UC Davis. The name 'Broad Spectrum' came out of a calculated attempt to be as inclusive as possible to any student who falls anywhere on the spectra of sexuality, sex, or gender. We welcome all students no matter their sexuality, gender identity, or gender expression. And yes, allies, this means we welcome you, too!

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Sunday, January 25, 2015

An update from Broad Spectrum

       Broad Spectrum Veterinary Student Association is entering its third year as the umbrella entity for the nation’s LGBTQ student organization. First off, I would like to introduce myself your newest national co-chair. My name is Leo Holguin, a current third year student at WesternU. I will be joining Amanda Fischer, Cornell 2015, to help organize and lead BSVSA for this upcoming year. I am excited to join BSVSA and look forward to working with all the school chapters to make it a productive, successful and fun year!

      We have exciting plans for the upcoming year! We will see you at next year’s SAVMA symposium 2015 hosted by University of Minnesota. We are hoping to organize another student mixer where we can come together and enjoy the company of fellow students and allies. We are planning to have an information booth where students can ask questions and hopefully receive answer ;p We are also planning to attend the Iverson Bell Symposium 2015 where we can advocate for LGTBQ students and learn how to better meet student needs. We hope to see you there! And finally we will be invading Boston for the 2015 AVMA convention, where we will team up with the LGVMA to plan exciting events and give them support.

This past AVMA convention hosted by Denver, I was able to participate and support the efforts of our parent organization, LGVMA. I was able to meet the amazing leadership of the LGVMA Dr. Sandy Hazanow and Dr. Ken Gorczyca. I had a wonderful time helping man the LGVMA booth where I was able to talk to interested members of the veterinary community and share my experience as a gay veterinary student. I also tagged along to the “Out” night hosted by the LGVMA where we ate some delicious food at Hamburger Mary’s then danced the night away! It was so much fun and I got to meet amazing colleagues and new friends. I can’t wait for next year’s AVMA convention and the shenanigans Boston will bring!
     
If you are pre-veterinary/ veterinary technician/ veterinary or intern/ resident and would like more information about Broad Spectrum Veterinary Association? 

Visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BroadSpectrumVSA
Became a member of BSVSA here: http://goo.gl/forms/scimULmjM6

Leo Holguin
BSVSA Co-Chair 


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