|
|
|
|
[ Wednesday, March 24, 1999 ]
LGBT supporters rally in Harrisburg
By DARYL LANG
Collegian Staff Writer
HARRISBURG -- In high school, Sydell Payne decided her sexuality was no one else's business and lied to classmates when they asked if she were gay. But yesterday, Payne (junior-women's studies and psychology) stood on the steps of the state capitol and told hundreds of supporters of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgenedered people about her experience as a gay teenager. Payne, along with about 30 other Penn State students, visited the Pennsylvania Capitol yesterday for Ignite '99, a rally and lobbying event part of a nationwide campaign called "Equality Begins at Home." Outside the state Capitol, television cameras recorded the rally of rainbow-colored flags and painted signs. At least one school field trip was rerouted to avoid the crowd. But behind the scenes, LGBT supporters visited legislators to lobby for laws that will afford them more rights.
PHOTO: Tom Williams
Sydell Payne (junior-women’s studies and psychology), left, embraces her girlfriend Jaime McClung of Pittsburgh after delivering a speech as the Ignite ‘99 Rally in Harrisburg yesterday.
The Ignite '99 platform calls for laws to prohibit discrimination against homosexuals, curb hate crimes, provide equal health care, promote safer schools and give same-sex couples full marriage and parenting rights.
The event was sponsored by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition (SPARC).
Emily Kuntz, a regional representative for SPARC and a Penn State kinesiology instructor, visited the offices of state Sen. Jake Corman, R-Centre, and Rep. Lynn Herman, R-Centre, along with her partner and a friend.
Visiting the state Capitol was a positive experience, Kuntz said, but she was disappointed that neither lawmaker she met appeared to be in support of upcoming hate crime legislation.
Austin Reed, one of the co-chairs of Pride Week at Penn State, visited Stephen Barrar, R-Delaware, his state representative. It was Reed's first experience lobbying and he hoped he at least made Barrar think.
"He's a very conservative man," said Reed, who identifies himself as a moderate Republican. "He's taking morality and pretty much putting it into state law."
Stephen McCann, the other co-chair of Pride Week, also visited Barrar but the experience left him soured.
"I hate politics," McCann said. "I'm going to go home after this and take a shower."
Sue Rankin, a Penn State diversity planning analyst and one of the co-chairs of SPARC, spoke at the rally and later said she was "very pleased" with the turnout.
Candace Gingrich, human rights lobbyist and relative of former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich; Larry Frankel, president of the Pennsylvania American Civil Liberties Union; and Paula Ettelbrick, national coordinator for Equality Begins at Home, were among those who participated.
Send an Opinion Letter to the Editor about this article.
Requested: Friday, September 05, 2008 7:03:24 AM -4
Created: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 6:26:19 PM -4