The chalk used by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
students to promote National Coming Out Week was more than just a
coming out day tactic.
LGBT students, staff, and faculty in the closet need to know
that they have friends on this campus who are dealing with the same
things they are ““ primarily, not being accepted by the
straight majority.
LGBT students have a right to express ourselves as long as it is
not “yelling fire in a crowed theatre” (to quote the
Supreme Court). “Come out, come out wherever you are”
hardly constitutes yelling fire, moreover it is not an imposition
of anyone’s views. Passersby could have simply averted their
eyes much like we have to do when we see heterosexuals slobbering
all over each other in public.
We have to ignore aspects of advertising, the media and many
other arenas of daily life. Are we whining? Please don’t be
silly enough to think a press for equal rights is whining.
Chalk is temporary and can be washed away with rain or water
hoses. Calling the political statement graffiti is moronic. That
would be correct if the writings were done in spray paint or
permanent marker, but they were not.
Sean Gregson wrote in his submission, “Coming Out Day
tagging unproductive, disunifying,” that “We should not
celebrate our differences so acutely that we forget our
similarities” (Viewpoint, Oct. 14.). But there is nothing
wrong with celebrating our differences so long as it is not
divisive. I enjoy learning about Chicana/o activism and the
accomplishments they have made as a people, and also hearing their
points of view. There are some aspects of their ideology I may
share, and even though I am not a Chicano, there is nothing wrong
with wanting to learn about their struggles and ideology. In fact,
I would argue that differences can and should be embraced, and
cherished without being divisive.
Merely writing “come out” in chalk on the ground is
not being divisive; it is visibility especially needed for students
who are thinking that they are the only ones going through a
complicated, sometimes painful, coming out process.
Need I remind all of the narrow-minded people out there that you
are the ones placing emphasis on our sexuality? Most of us will
tell you that sex is a minor part of our being and our political
activism. I have heard people say we want special rights. We want
the same respect and consideration that heterosexuals get: the
right to marry, to have a family, to ownership in the case of the
death of a partner, and to be heard.
LGBT people have so much to deal with. Our unions are not
recognized in this country (except minimally at the state level in
Vermont), and we have to go through so much more to adopt children
because the powers that be want to characterize us as “child
molesters” and “sexual deviants.”
As Candice Gingrich pointed out in her speech on Bruin Walk last
week, “Coming out is a political act … we must continue to
make ourselves visible to gain ground.”
We want the same rights as everyone else has. For those of you
who wrote our messages across campus, please keep up the good work.
We should be seen as well as heard.