Two more anonymous contributions (second one):
What do we need in this community to make real CHANGE, as one blogger said? Tell me concrete ways to increase visibility and we'll do it. Do we need a protest on the main quad? posters? Please let us know so we can make it happen. Let's stop complaining about a lack of visibility and brainstorm real ideas on how to change it.
Monday, January 5, 2009
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I honestly think we need to a create an atmosphere where more people come out. I don't think protests, posters, or announcements encourage them to come out. I think meeting more gay people and having more friends in -existing contexts- who are accepting will bring that about.
ReplyDeleteOnce more people are out, then it kinda cascades from there. Most people just haven't been exposed to someone LGBT in a personal context before. Once that gets created, real change will genuinely happen.
How can we encourage people to come out? By strong examples, by getting involved in existing communities at Duke and being out in those communities.
I don't think "real change" can happen immediately. It's something that existing LGBT students need to bring about by getting involved with Duke outside of the LGBT center. When that happens, and more dialogue occurs in those social circles, the existing Duke community will change from the inside.
I think this is one way to do it. I'm sure there are others too.
I agree that coming out is one of the most important ways to make an impact within your own community. It puts a face on who we are, and lets others know that they DO know LGBT persons. At the same time, I wouldn't be so quick to reject the value of posters and protests either. It's not always a bad thing to drop subtlety and proclaim who you are and what you believe. Activism works on multiple levels, both public and private, and it is through a combination of these that we will be able to change Duke campus.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Alta said above, that through coming out and BEING out, by being a strong representation of the LGBT community on Duke campus, others will begin to be more comfortable in coming out, will start to see that they really aren't alone or different in their sexuality at all. At the same time, this process is very slow, and there is no guaranty that enough people will come out to make a big impact on the Duke culture. However, through public demonstrations of support and protest for LGBT related issues and causes, the LGBT community and it's allies can be heard, and can reach a much larger crowd, quickly. It's all well and good to espouse the benefits of coming out with regards to the visibility and acceptance of the LGBT community, but if one simultaneously rejects the efforts of groups such as BDU or the LGBT Center, then true acceptance is a far-off, uncertain thing. Coming out is certainly a first step, but we should also be joining with our allies in standing up for our rights. Change does not just happen, usually it needs a push. If anything, the recent rallies and protests sparked by Proposition 8 has shown us that. For years the LGBT Rights Movement became dormant and pacifistic, it lacked a drive, but on November 4th it was finally given that kick which sparked serious public outrage and a national coming together to protest the unfair treatment of the LGBT community. We cannot let that drive go now, we cannot lose our momentum. Harvey Milk isn't a legend just because he was out. What made him great was what he did with that. His drive and his unapologetic activism, his conviction in his belief that everyone is created equal, that is what we remember him for today, and that's how he managed to create some pretty incredible change in his time. Now it's our turn.