Rally for Equality draws hundreds

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It started with a small contingent of blue-shirted students picketing in front of academic buildings at 6:45 a.m. and holding signs at the entrance to Lower Campus, encouraging cars to honk their horns for equality for homosexuals. It grew to a procession numbering upward of 1,500 people marching through campus, with the front of the line at 21 Campanella Way extending all the way to O'Neill Plaza.

"I would never have thought that this would ever happen here," said Mike Yaksich, director of GLBT Issues for the Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC) and A&S '05. "I'm proud to go to school here."

The Rally and Strike for Equality in support of adding sexual orientation to the University's nondiscrimination clause drew throngs of students, professors, and other members of the BC community to the Dustbowl today to come together in solidarity. A stage constructed in the Dustbowl featured a group of students playing instruments to keep the morale high throughout the rally. Many others present wore shirts as part of the "Gay? Fine By Me." campaign and held signs prompting the end of discrimination against homosexuals.

Burnell Holland, UGBC vice president and A&S '05, Chris Young, A&S '07, professor Theresa Hammond of the accounting department, and professor Paul Lewis of the English department went onstage to share their thoughts on the rally, gay rights, and their experiences with discrimination.

Young recalled his hesitation to enroll at BC due to its homophobic reputation as reported by Princeton Review rankings and the nature of the University's nondiscrimination clause.

"I came to Boston College knowing of its reputation, knowing about such things as the very nondiscrimination policy that has brought us here today," he said. "And I was positive that I would never come to Boston College - I would rather not go to college at all then to have to revert back to the person who not only lived in fear, but lived in fear and hiding."

He changed his mind, however, when he met a gay student while visiting campus. The student encouraged him to enroll, saying that being a gay student at BC would not be easy, but that he would be glad for making the decision. That welcoming gesture played a big role in Young's decision, he said.

"I stand before you today because someone reached out to me and made me feel welcome," said Young. "I stand before you today because my purpose here has become one of fighting for that same compassion for all students.

"I stand before you today as a human being thanking you for recognizing and appreciating my humanity," he added. "I stand before you today as a human being, who just happens to be gay, begging my university and its administrators to do the same thing."

In her speech, Hammond said she felt like a second-class citizen as a homosexual on campus, due in part to the absence of sexual orientation from the nondiscrimination clause. She also said her students, bosses, and colleagues do not care she is gay, but that the problem of discrimination is kept alive by a small part of the BC community.

Community reaction

The rally attracted not only students, but also professors, deans, and other members of the administration, who were moved by the speakers' testimonies.

"I was very moved by the testimony of these people because they were speaking out of their own experiences," said Clare Dunsford, associate dean of the College of Arts & Sciences.

The large turnout for the rally showed the momentum behind the movement for equality for homosexuals, said Ourida Mostefai, acting associate dean in A&S.

"It's important that you are sensing momentum at Boston College, that we're expressing this collectively, because over the years there have been talks about this, but now I think we've reached a new step where the community is coming together to express itself on this topic," said Mostefai.

Associate professor David Deese from the political science department agreed, saying he was impressed with the overall turnout.

"At the very beginning I said to Steve [another professor], 'If we were at Tufts or Harvard it would have been a much bigger turnout,' but when we got to the end, I said 'I take it all back.'" Deese said. "We did it better. I don't think it would have been done better anywhere in Boston."

The large turnout for both the rally and the march was something completely new to some BC students.

"I was really surprised about the turnout. At first it didn't look like there were that many people, but then when we started the march it was just amazing how many people came out," said Ben Mahany, A&S '08.

Glenn Farrell, LSOE '07, said the large turnout showed how much students really want a change and want it now.

"It shows that this is what the students really want, and something has to happen whether they like it or not," he said. "I don't know how much of an effect this will have on the administration because they seem so stubborn in their ways, but I think it's what everyone wants and something should happen."

Jack Dunn, University spokesman, commended the way today's rally was handled by all those involved.

"Today's rally demonstrates the passion that many students feel for this issue, which they view as a civil rights matter," he said. "They were articulate and respectful, and we appreciate the way they handled themselves."

The March

Following the speakers was a procession through campus, which had been approved by Dean Robert Sherwood of the Office of the Dean for Student Development (ODSD) who also approved the rally. The march diverted from its approved route, however, and went along Commonwealth Avenue, prompting the BC Police Department (BCPD) to guide the marchers along to prevent safety problems.