There’s been a great deal of discussion surrounding hate crimes on our campus following the noose incident in Sullivan Shops. I’m often ambivalent about the topic of hate crimes legislation and policy. On one hand I believe it’s prudent to punish people that commit violent crimes based on blind hatred. However, I also fear using such legislation against the accused unjustly, and I question the ability of legislation to curb the problem of hate.
To further complicate this problem, lesbian, gay and bisexual people often exist as hidden class not easy, and sometimes unwilling, to be defined. Unlike race or gender, LGBT persons appear in all social and ethnic groups. Due to these complexities, many would be hate crimes against the LGBT community go unreported; including rapes and sexual assaults.
While I don’t understand what drives someone to commit violence against people based on their sexual orientation, I understand what causes much of the underlying misunderstanding and hatred of the community. Our sexuality is a deeply personal and emotional issue. Our journey to understand ourselves can sometimes lead us to lash out and verbally attack those who have seemingly figured out what we are still processing.
I recall times in my past when I spewed disdain toward people I perceived as gay. I recently ran across one of those people I harassed in high school and apologized for what I did. However, karma will get you in the end; he’s gorgeous, gay and in law school, but obviously uninterested in me. Hindsight is 20/20 I suppose.
While I’m not suggesting all people that harass gays and lesbians are closeted homosexuals, I would suggest most are sexual confused or insecure. Many of the wall post on the Facebook group against the GLBT center provide excellent examples of these insecurities. Rarely does the hate for the community rise out of a true theological mandate.
Since hate against LGBT persons arises out this internal struggle, the University’s traditional response has been to avoid the issue all together. While I don’t think university mandated diversity training would solve this issue, I do believe a uniform response to hate incidents is in order.
Why does a toilet paper noose elicit a mass email and press release from the chancellor, but chants of “faggot” at football and basketball games or phallic drawings on bathroom stalls receive no attention. Why does a student carrying holding a sign at the Carolina football game stating “Carolina Guys Swallow” go unpunished? If the sign targeted Asians the student would have been escorted out of the stadium. If the comments about the GLBT center on Facebook were aimed at African-Americans those students would have been suspended or charged with honor code violations.
Some responsibility also rests with the LGBT community. Gays and lesbians must be more open and visible on our campus. Living fully as who you are is critical part of your journey. This is not to say that you have to write newspaper columns or carry a rainbow flag. However, this does mean you should be honest with those you live and work around whether you’re a star swimmer or tennis player, drummer in the band or a run-of-the-mill engineering student. Students living fully should be our goal.
