The gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (GLBTIQ) community at NC State has made leaps and bounds over the past few years, but our story doesn’t end here. Your help is crucial in making our campus even more GLBTIQ-inclusive.
We call ourselves the Wolfpack, yet we lack the unity, wholeness and alliance of a true pack. Each day we ostracize our peers for their sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. In the aftermath of approximately 10 GLBTIQ youth suicides last month, this week in October is annually celebrated as Coming Out Week and serves as a time to recognize and empower individual diversity. Today, more than ever, we encourage you to become a GLBTIQ ally.
GLBTIQ allies are some of the most effective and compelling voices behind our community. Allies advocate openly for equal rights and respect diversity among all. You have the power to stop the discrimination that GLBTIQ youth have been facing for decades. Every time a phrase like “that’s so gay” or “no homo” or “she’s such a dyke” is uttered, there may be someone nearby who no longer feels welcome on our campus. Most importantly, these simple messages can irrevocably damage a person’s sense of self worth.
Regardless of your beliefs about sexual orientation or gender identity, the act remains that there are hundreds of GLBTIQ people in our Wolfpack who rely on your support. These are your friends, your roommates, your teachers and your classmates. Sexual orientation and gender identity are intertwined characteristics of a person’s being that span across all races, ethnic groups, religions, abilities, ages, and cultures. We don’t wear a special badge that labels us, and many of us may never tell (‘come out to’) you about our true identity or the struggles we face.
While sexual orientation and gender identity are core components of us all, they are still just components. Coming Out Week celebrates just a few of the thousands of identities that define who we are. Who each of us is attracted to and who we love doesn’t define whether or not we like to play the guitar or be on the basketball team. It doesn’t determine our career goals, our beliefs in a particular religion, or our favorite type of music. Each of us is unique and talented.
The most effective way you can help end the discrimination on our campus is to be proactive. When you hear a negative comment or joke, say something to stop it. When you have the chance to be visible and wear a supportive button on your backpack, do it. When you see a GLBTIQ couple walking hand in hand on campus, give them a smile. Every little effort makes more of a difference than you might ever know.
Justin Boucher is the president of the GLBT Community Alliance and a senior in environmental engineering.
Justin’s story: As a first-year student, I had mustered up the courage to come out. After reading a comic in The Technician that highlighted the negative attitude towards gays on campus, I lost my courage to begin living openly for the next two years. Today, I’m proud to finally be out on campus and a part of this article.
Stephanie is a junior in communication. She is currently conducting an IRB-approved academic research study on LGBT students’ experiences in and perceptions of college communication courses. Her goal is to improve communication course pedagogy by making it more LGBT-inclusive.
Stephanie’s story: Coming out was easy. The hard part came after: the stares, the whispers, the slurs. I’ve learned to combat inequality by speaking out. Today, I’m dedicated to ending the discrimination I’ve so often experienced.
