GLC examines role of allies

In 1997, the Human Rights Campaign established National Coming Out Day in celebration of 500,000 people who marched on Washington, D.C., to advocate gay and lesbian rights in 1987. Boston College joined this social movement to raise public awareness of one of the most polemical issues in the nation, and organized a weeklong celebration of National Coming Out Week, from Monday through Friday.

One of the events organized by the GLBT Leadership Council (GLC) and the Undergraduate Government of BC (UGBC) was a "How to Be Straight" panel, held Tuesday. The panel, led by Anna Rhodes, A&S '10, invited five participants, who shared personal encounters and opinions.

Virginia Reinburg, an associate professor in the history department at BC since 1985, explained that it is important to acknowledge the gravity of the issue. "A lot of students are in pain, for there is a continuous undercurrent of actions that harm the GLBT community," she said.

At BC, which has a strong Jesuit background, homosexuality is a rather sensitive subject. Vincent Lynch, the director of continuing education at the Graduate School for Social Work, said that the University is definitely struggling in a positive direction to face the issue, but still has a long way to go.

J.A. Loftus, a parish staff member at St. Ignatius Church and the director of the Jesuit Urban Center at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Boston, commented on the clash between the Christian religion and the movement for gay rights. As a parishoner who works with a predominantly gay and lesbian community, Loftus has a unique experience: "People ask me how I, a parishoner, can be a GLBT ally. I think that it is a misuse of idea of religion. In Christ, there is no male, female, American, or Hispanic … All of us are the same." In his view, this is a "terrible irony," since every Christian document condemns discrimination. "We are all God's children. We need to love one another," Loftus said.

The rest of the panel was directed toward answering questions of how to be an ally to the GLBT community. Reinburg said that it is necessary to take small steps, as it is a very sensitive issue, and to start by "simply raising the issue that there is a GLBT community here."

Joellen Hawkins, a professor of nursing in the Connell School of Nursing for 24 years, highlighted the importance of building an environment that provides safety and comfort for the GLBT community. She said that she tries to show her acceptance and welcome by putting up symbols such as rainbows on her door. "The most important thing is to let the community know that they are safe," Hawkins said.

As another way to become an ally of the GLBT community, the panelists reinforced the idea of building individual connections. "I don't differentiate myself from the community. Instead of finding the differences, why don't we start by identifying what we have in common?" Lynch said.

The panelists agreed that the key is to build trust by making connections and respecting the individual's choice. "You have to let the individual take the lead. Give him the privilege and let him decide," Lynch said.

Another issue raised during the discussion was approaching those with strongly opposing views. Loftus, who has had many experiences confronting opposition, said that one needs to respect perspectives different from his own. "We need to realize that each person has different background. Neither side should be out to change each other's view. We need to agree to understand the difference," Loftus said.

Rhodes said that she is content to see such a great turnout. The room full of students indicated a rising concern for this human rights issue among BC students. She asked many students to learn more about the GLBT community by attending weekly GLC meetings, and participating in upcoming National Coming Out Week events.