Public Forum

This forum is now closed. Here are the posts from Spring 2003 on the Response to Anti-Queer Bias Incidents.

most recent posts appear first

Nicole Lunning writes:
Let's make our campus safe for everyone!

Joan writes:
I think this is really important! My best friend has been harrassed by means of the white board on her door and other anonymous writings more than once this year. I want it to stop, and I want to know who did it so the university can deal with this person. Everyone needs to stand up and let it be known that hate will not be part of our campus.

Ali writes:
[name deleted by webmaster]-- You say "the cases [the page] cite[s] are ridiculous...[i]t is in the human nature to make jokes of the minorities." Did you even READ the "What Happened" page? Do you find someone being assaulted with *unopened* beer cans (as heavy as rocks) ridiculous? Do you think someone getting an email that directly threatens them with a beating and rape is a joke? Furthermore, you say that "being gather[ed] under the slogan of sexual preference usually indicates lack of respect for your sexual choice...[these] things are to be kept private", and yet in the very next sentence you proclaim yourself to be straight on a public forum! Perhaps you're not very good at keeping your sexuality private, either? And would you say that people who organized in the Black Civil Rights movement were showing a lack of respect for their skin pigmentation, or that those who did so in the name of Women's Liberation were showing a lack of respect for their genitalia? You advise queer people to be happy, and yet isn't that what an attempt to prevent anti-queer violence is? Don't you think we want happiness, too? We just want to be able to be happy and be with our partners without worrying about getting beaten, raped and murdered because someone else thinks queer people don't deserve the same rights that everyone else does. And that's what this page is all about: telling the rest of the world -- including straight people like yourself who clearly don't realize the extent to which violence is perpetrated on queer people -- that these sorts of incidents DO happen, and more frequently than you might think. Especially on a university campus should in no way tolerate them as acceptable.

Mo writes:
[name deleted by webmaster], While I am genuinely happy that people who don't necessarily agree with Queer Safe Campus' ideas are visiting the website and getting educated, I have to strongly disagree with you on many of your points. Making fun of minorities is part of human nature? So I should feel free to make racist jokes? To make fun of Jews? Of those with disibilities? You're equating the immaturity you see around you with what is good, or what ought to be, and I'm sorry but that's ridiculous. If you hear people protesting, and saying they are being hurt by this 'joking' how can you say it doesn't have an effect? If it hurts, it does, that's a reality and you have to react to that injury not to what you think you are doing. I agree, we don't want segregation, we want a harmonious society -- but the way to do that is NOT to force minorities to suffer because the majority doesn't want to change. Society may be harmonious from your majaority viewpoint (at least with regard to sexual orientation), but it's not for the minorities who are being hurt. I am straight as well, and I don't understand how you feel like a minority. Look at the media -- every image we see of happiness, of success, is straight. again, I'm really glad that you're checking out the website, and I hope you come to some of these events next year. sincerely, mo

[name deleted by webmaster] writes:
Alright, folks. I see everybody on the forum is very impressed and supportive of the website and its ideas. Although I understand that my comment has few chances of being posted, I'l still share some thughts. First, the cases you cite are ridiculous. It is in the human nature to make jokes of the minorities. Race, sex, ideology - these are all reasons to moke people. I agree that those who do these types of jokes are mostly stupid, but there is nothing to do with that other than not to listen. Second, there are much more jokes about straight people than about gay. Anything from "you partner is ugly" to "my penis is bigger, thus girls love me" is a common feature of party jokes. However, nobody thinks of setting a web-site to support male appreciation of females in the danger of gay violence. Finally, being gather under the slogan of sexual preference usually indicates lack of respect for your sexual choice. This things are to be kept private. Myself, being straight, I often feel I am a minority, as there are so many talks of gays and lesbians. To conclude, you yourself create the paradigm of the problem by devoting so much energy to minor issues. My advise - be certain about your sexual preferences and happy, but do not reinforce the "minority" problem. After all, all we want is happiness, not segregation of the society. Sincerely, [name deleted by webmaster]

Jen Slotterback writes:
Really well-done! --I can't wait to get involved with the great ideas happening here in the queer community at U of C. The carefully thought-out demands outlined on this site are both a much-needed articulation of a real and present problem on this campus and a compelling call to action that should reach ears at all levels within university life. Thanks for presenting these exciting possibilities!

Thom Cantey writes:
Oh, and to Abra: "You guys?" Always room for one more....;-)

Thom Cantey writes:
Yeah, this is great! Queer electronic unity is the best...I congratulate the pioneers for doing this, as I think that the University will respond better to well-formulated, well organized ideas for change, and, plus, it gives us great direction.

Abra writes:
I'm really glad you guys are doing this. I want to be a part of a campus that is supportive of its LGBTQ community members. Thanks for your hard work!

Leah Kelley writes:
How GREAT to see this community get mobilized for its own safety and the benefit of the University! I only hope the administration is saavy enough to take the ball and run with us...

Tim Stewart-Winter writes:
This is a really impressive set of ideas - especially the way it articulates the need for the admin not just to make supportive statements, but to back that up with active steps. For undergraduates students, in the dorms and in the Greek system, the outside speakers and trainings will be especially important - not just to educate people, but to build goodwill and trust between the university and its queer communities.

Debra Michaud writes:
Great website and ideas. I suggest that you have another link titled "how to get involved." Having done a lot of campus and non-campus organizing, I find the best way to get people involved seriously is to give them a sense of ownership of the organization, a project, or whatever. Looking at your statement of purpose ("what we want"), the question I pose is how can other individuals help shape/expand that vision, as well as how do they get involved w/ each project?

Christina Ghanbarpour writes:
Great website! I think we definitely need a database on bias incidents, since many don't count as "crimes" and most people would not report them otherwise (I know I didn't!). On the "what we want" section, I would add a program to raise awareness in the Greek system of both a supportive LGBTQ community and the university's policies on bias incidents, since that seems to be where a number of incidents have occurred. Also, I think we could use a gender/women's studies course option in the core to educate people on gay life.