Students speak out

Marshall students were given the opportunity to voice their opinions concerning gay and lesbian issues Monday night at the Student Government Association (SGA) sponsored Gay Issues Speak-out in the Don Morris Room of the Mem-rial Student Center.

SGA President Brandi Jacobs said she was happy with the attendance.

"I'm very pleased with the turnout," Jacobs said. "No, we didn't fill the Don Morris Room but, we had about 25 people, which is a step in the right direction.

"Often when people are in the minority, they feel hesitant about voicing their opinions," Jacobs said, "but I think everyone felt comfortable in this setting."

Jacobs said the program was organized in response to the recent defacement of fliers posted by Delta Lambda Phi, the state's first fraternity for gay, bisexual or progressive men.

"With the issues that have been going on like the defacement of the signs on campus, we felt that this would be a good opportunity for students to voice their opinions and maybe develop a level of tolerance," she said.

One issue raised at the speakout was that of hate speech.

Hilary Chiz, president of the West Virginia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said because freedom of speech, whether positive or negative, is protected under the First Amendment, the only way hate speech can be combated is if everyone makes their voices heard.

"The ACLU's only mission is to protect and promote liberties guaranteed by the Bill of Rights," she said, "and hate speech, though offensive, is not illegal.

"I firmly believe that the response for hate speech is more speech and louder and more vigorous speech. Be out there and don't let it go."

Another issue addressed was labeling.

Drew Pritt, a junior transfer student from Arkansas, said he thought gays and lesbians separated themselves from other students.

"I consider myself a very progressive person," he said, "but I have a problem when I go to one bar and it's considered straight and I go to another bar and it's considered gay."

Raymie White, co-coordinator of the Lesbian, Bisexual and Gay Outreach Office, said he thought many gays and lesbians separated themselves in search of acceptance.

"The reason you have a gay bar is so you can surround yourself with people like you who you have something in common with," he said.

White said organizations like the Lesbian, Bisexual and Gay Outreach program were not after approval, but simply a better environment for it's members' education.

"We know that we're probably not going to get everyone to say that they love gay students, but that's not what we're after," White said.

"What we want is for all gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders to be able to walk across campus and feel safe so they can do what they're here to do, which is to get an education," he said.