Gender, Sexuality, and Policy Event Committee

GSPEC logo

Mission Statement

To foster an inclusive community through open, thought-provoking conversations that further our exploration of gender, sex, and sexuality as context in our lives, policy, and beyond.

About GSPEC

The Gender, Sexuality, and Policy Event Committee (GSPEC) is a student organization at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, within the Center on Women, Gender, and Public Policy, dedicated to supporting women, genderqueer, and LGBTQIA+ students. We work to foster conversations about the intersection of gender, sex, sexuality and policy through biweekly meetings and monthly school-wide events.

Examples of past GSPEC events include:

  • Gender 101: an overview of how gender shapes our daily lives and can be shaped by policy
  • Gendered spaces: a look at how urban planning policy affects men and women differently
  • Masculinities: a deep dive into how masculinity is shaped and created, and how those assumptions are embedded within policy
  • Negotiation: a workshop that teaches negotiation skills from a gendered perspective
  • Sexual & Relationship Violence: a discussion of sexual and relationship violence on campus and the policy effects of Title IX implementation

History of GSPEC

GSPEC was founded in 2014 after a group of graduate students decided they wanted more space to discuss gender at the Humphrey School. Through support of Humphrey faculty and the Center on Women, Gender, and Public Policy a small group of students formed the student organization. GSPEC began hosting events throughout the semester to discuss the intersection of gender and sexuality with public policy.