Thursday, March 20, 1997

Proud action

Students rally for equal rights

By SUSANNE WALKER
Collegian Staff Writer

A call for the University to provide medical benefits to partners of gay, lesbian and bisexual employees led the way during the rally held on Schwab Auditorium steps yesterday to kick off the 12th annual Pride Week.

"I long for the day when all of us can be open about our sexual orientations."

- Stephen Shetler
psychologist in Counseling and Psychological Services

In a call to action to change current University medical benefits policy, Colina Jordan, one of the guest speakers at the rally and the membership chair of the Ni-Ta-Nee chapter of the National Organization for Women, asked the crowd of about 120 supporters and onlookers to write "Is it fair?" on every blackboard in every classroom.

Once this is done, it will be "mighty embarrassing for faculty and staff to walk around campus" knowing some groups are excluded from medical benefits because of sexual orientation, Jordan said.

"(It is in the) University's best interest to protect employees and give them good medical care," she added.

University officials did not return phone calls last night.

Another guest speaker, Andrew Miller, also issued a call to action to reduce discrimination against gay, lesbian and bisexual people. As co-coordinator of Amnesty International at Penn State, Miller spoke about injustices gay and lesbian people suffer universally.

In Russia, people have been imprisoned because they are gay, Miller said. In Iran, public officials have openly stated people who engage in homosexual acts should be executed, he added.

Instead of a call to action, Stephen Shetler, a psychologist in Counseling and Psychological Services, just hoped for a better day.

"I long for the day when all of us can be open about our sexual orientations," he said.

Quoting a report on suicide by young people, Shetler said 30 percent of all youth suicides seem to be related to sexual orientation.

That is the reason gay adults should be "out" and "available" for the younger gay population, Shetler said.

Darin Loccarini, president of Students Reinforcing Adherence In General Heterosexual Tradition said the rally was a great way for gay and lesbian people to voice their opinions. However, Loccarini disagreed with sponsors of the rally.

"I think it is an atrocity that it was sponsored by Undergraduate Student Government and Association of Resident Hall Students," he said. "Governing organizations should not sponsor any political organization. They are here to govern, not sponsor."

The rally had an effect on many other people as well.

Mel Railo, (junior-media studies) said she appreciated the rally "because of the public display of pride and declaration of human rights that are denied by institutionalized homophobia."