Wednesday, April 1, 1998
Program tries to create LGBT community allies
By KHYBER OSERCollegian Staff Writer
With their eyes closed, about 45 people sat in a classroom last
night and were told to imagine themselves walking along a beach
with their true loves.
They were told to imagine themselves looking into their soul mates'
eyes and thinking that there was no other place on Earth they
would rather be.
The classroom was totally silent as the group envisioned the scenario
-- then the silence was broken when the people had homophobic
slurs shouted at them.
Eyes jerked open as everyone was shocked back to reality.
Jennifer Dumin (freshman-premedicine), secretary of Allies, discusses how to be supportive of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community. Last night's "Straight But Not Narrow" program, which promoted tolerance and understanding, was sponsored by Allies. (Collegian Photo/Shawn Knapp - click for full size image)
Jennifer Potter (junior-English) attended the program and said
the slang words made her feel angry and hurt.
"It makes me wonder what a lesbian, gay or bisexual feels
when they hear those words," Potter said. "I feel sad
that we have words like that in our society. I know there are
people out there who are ridiculed simply for enjoying a relationship."
As part of the Lambda Student Alliance's (Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual
Student Alliance's) Pride Week, the program was intended to educate
people on how they can become allies of the LGBT community, said
Jennifer Dumin, Allies secretary.
"There's a lot of violence, harassment and gay bashing that
goes on right here at Penn State," Dumin (freshman-premedicine)
said. "It's very important to let the LGBT community know
that not all straight people are narrow-minded."
Allies presents the program a few times each semester, but the
turnout last night was the largest the group has ever had, Allies
member Wendy Silverman (senior-horticulture) said.
One section of the program was a discussion of terms relevant
to the LGBT community. Some words mentioned were "outing,"
disclosing someone's sexual orientation without permission; and
"heterosexism," the belief that everyone is and should
be heterosexual.
In addition, the audience received a heterosexual questionnaire
which offered a reversal of questions frequently asked of lesbians
and gay men. Questions included "Isn't it possible that all
you need is a good gay/lesbian lover?" and "Why do you
insist on being so obvious and making a public spectacle of your
heterosexuality?"
Potter said she came to the program in order to write a paper
for a class, but she was glad she went because it was a positive
experience.
The overall turnout and response of the audience was good, Silverman
said, because it showed that people want to be educated and want
to understand the lives of the LGBT community.
But more work needs to be done, Silverman added.
"It would be great if there wasn't a need for our group," she said. "That would mean that everyone is an ally."
