Lambda Corps / LAMBDA

The Lambda Code:

λ is diversity. You are one voice among many.
λ is change. You are an agent of change for establishing a new order.
Λ is liberty. You are the defense against oppression.
λ is light. You are the light of knowledge dispelling the darkness of ignorance.
λ is clarity. You are an exploration of new ideas and a search for core principles.

The lambda metaphor, as found in science and history.

DIVERSITY: The spectrum is composed of many wavelengths.
CHANGE: Empires like atoms will decay, so remain prepared to forge the future.
LIBERTY: Lacedaemonians (Spartans) simultaneously valued individualism and unity, and their shield bore the lambda logo.
LIGHT: Romans looked at the Greek letter as a symbol of flame therefore light (” lumen scientiae “).
CLARITY: Understanding improves when operations are simplified to their basic functions.

The lambda as a letter and a symbol of LGBT interests.

Lamedh was a letter of the Phoenician alphabet.
It became letter Lambda among the Greeks: uppercase Λ and lowercase λ.
It became letter L among the Romans.
Use of the lambda in chemistry and physics led to an interpretation of the letter as a symbol of political energy for the new gay rights movement after the Stonewall Riots of 1969.
This letter was chosen in 1970 as the symbol of the Gay Activists Alliance of New York, and it was also selected in 1974 by the International Gay Rights Congress in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Lambda Legal formed in 1973 to fight discrimination and achieve legal equality for lesbian and gay people.
The first Lambda Literary Awards were held in 1989 to recognize publication of books with gay and lesbian themes.

The great scientific minds in GLBT history who explored new territories of thought and form.

Leonardo Da Vinci

A 15th century scientist, engineer, and artist. The handsome “Renaissance Man” never married or dated women; was twice denounced for sodomy; spent 25 years with male companion Giani di’ Jacomo Caprotti; and willed Giani his money, clothes, and property.

“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.”
“A painter should begin every canvas with a wash of black, because all things in nature are dark except where exposed by the light.”
“I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.”

Margaret Mead

A 20th century anthropologist and psychologist. The speaker popularized anthropology in American culture, had affairs with women in addition to serial marriages with men, became the first woman anthropologist as president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and posthumously received the presidential Medal of Freedom.

“Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
“Instead of being presented with stereotypes by age, sex, color, class, or religion, children must have the opportunity to learn that within each range, some people are loathsome and some are delightful.”

Alan Turing

A 20th century mathematician, computer scientist, and war hero. The cryptanalyst helped end World War II by developing a method of breaking Nazi ciphers generated with their Enigma machines, developed the concept of the general purpose computer, proposed an experiment for measuring machine cognition that is now known as the “Turing Test”, was convicted of homosexuality and sentenced to hormone treatment, and was posthumously granted a royal pardon in 2013.

“We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done.”
“A computer would deserve to be called intelligent if it could deceive a human into believing that it was human.”
“No, I’m not interested in developing a powerful brain. All I’m after is just a mediocre brain, something like the President of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company.”

Jim Pollack

A 20th century astrophysicist. The space research scientist theorized that seasonal color variations on Mars were caused by wind storms and dust instead of plant life; influenced international politics by introducing the term “nuclear winter” with 4 other scientists and warning of the potential impact on climate of nuclear war; participated in Mariner, Viking, and Galileo missions at NASA; lived openly gay with his lover Bruce Hassell while receiving the Allied support of famous astrophysicist Carl Sagan; and had a crater on Mars named in his honor.

Nergis Mavalvala

A 21st century astrophysicist. The quantum astrophysicist was a professor of astrophysics at MIT, received a MacArthur Fellowship (the “Genius Awards”), received the Joseph F. Keithley Award for Advances in Measurement Science, won an Out to Innovate award from NOGLSTP, and her work in macroscopic quantum systems helped the LIGO team to confirm the existence of gravitational waves in 2016.

“I don’t mind being on the fringes of any social group. You are less constrained by the rules. I am just myself, but out of that comes something positive.”
“Some people venture into places others consider dangerous or unsavory. They are not foolish or fearless. They read a situation and have some confidence in reading it well enough, so they go there.”