Author: Larissa Saco
Occidental is making strides addressing the unique issues that the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) community faces. In the past two weeks, Occidental has hosted Speak Up Speak Out and the 18th annual Models of Pride Conference (MOP) for Greater Los Angeles.
The Speak Up Speak Out discussion and movie screening was held last Wednesday, Oct. 13, in Johnson Hall. Many students, administrators and staff members attended the event.
The 2009 film “Out in the Silence,” which chronicles the trials of a gay teen in rural Western Pennsylvania, was shown. The movie brings to light the difficulty of coming out in a conservative society by following protagonist Joe Wilson’s hometown battle over his same-sex marriage.
Multiple incidents of harassment at Occidental involving homophobic slurs written on residence hall doors, as well as the victimization of Tricia McGowan (first-year) and an unidentified Oxy professor, prompted the hosting of these events.
After “Out in the Silence” concluded, attendees broke up into small groups to discuss their reactions to the film. Then participants identified possible ways to spread the film’s message to the rest of campus.
“The entire group came back together and discussed action steps that could make the Oxy community a more inclusive place,” Kelsey Longmuir (senior) said.
Students suggested that CSPs become more dialogue-oriented, so that all students may be involved in conversations about race, gender, class and sexuality during their time at Oxy, according to Longmuir.
“The general sentiment is that it is problematic that not everyone on campus is exposed to dialogue,” she said in an e-mail interview.
Administrators have endorsed the effort to educate students and spark dialogue on campus.
“I know students are mobilizing to bring awareness of these incidents to the campus community. My staff and I will be joining in these efforts, as a failure to act can be read as a nod to complicity. So let me be clear: harassment and bullying of any student (LGBTQ identified or not) will not be tolerated at Oxy,” Dean of Students Barbara Avery wrote in a campus-wide e-mail.
The Speak Up Speak Out discussion is evidence of this movement.
In the e-mail, Avery also advised Oxy to continue “creating a more just, inclusive, welcoming and equitable campus community.”
In accordance with this goal, Oxy shared with the community in welcoming the 18th annual MOP Conference to the Quad. It lasted all day Saturday, Oct. 9.
About 250 high school students attended the conference and enjoyed the food, entertainment and other activities it had to offer, including celebrity appearances by the cast of “Glee,” comedian Kathy Griffin and film producer and “So You Think You Can Dance” judge Adam Shankman.
The free conference addressed the interests and concerns of LGBTQ youth, ages 12 to 24, and their allies in the Los Angeles area. The conference provided workshops that covered topics as varied as dating, friendships, stereotyping, student activism and health care.
In addition, this year’s conference offered special workshops for parents, led by Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, a national non-profit organization with over 200,000 members and supporters and over 500 affiliates in the United States. Subjects included parenting LGBTQ children and advocating for their children’s rights.
The conference also focused on college life by specifically addressing students’ fears over the safety of their college environments.
MOP suggested ways to provide for a safer environment for students, faculty and staff. Ideas included providing more access to community resources, providing teens with information about LGBTQ-friendly colleges and scholarships, organizing campaigns that fight against homophobia and transphobia and bringing awareness to college campuses through dialogue, entertainment and lessons from our nation’s history.
Oxy administrators hope that MOP and the Speak Up Speak Out discussion inspired students to be more cognisant of their peers.
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