Thursday, October 14, 1993
by Tom Keefe
Assistant News Editor
On October 11, Trigon
(Behrend's gay, lesbian and
bisexual organization) celebrated
National Coming Out Day by
sponsoring Behrend Ally Day.
Trigon advisor, Sue Daley
said, "The main purpose of the
day was to educate Behrend's
students, faculty and staff about
homosexuality and to recruit
allies."
An ally is any heterosexual
person who supports other
persons who are gay, lesbian or
bisexual.
Throughout the day, an art
exhibit was on display in the
Wintergarden. All of the
artwork was done by local gay,
lesbian, bisexual and ally artists.
There was also an information
table set up in the Reed
Building. Free ally stickers were
available as well as buttons and
T-shirts for sale. Students were
encouraged to display their ally
stickers in an obvious place, a
place where gay, lesbian and
bisexual individuals would see it
and recognize that person as an
ally.
Displaying the sticker allows
homosexuals to feel more
comfortable and safe. Trigon
President Sharain Naylor
commented, "When any gay,
lesbian or bisexual person
notices the sticker, he or she
knows it is safe to be around
that person."
In May of 1991, Penn State
University established a policy
prohibiting discrimination on
the basis of sexual orientation.
Daley commented "With
regard to that policy, Behrend
needs more visible support for
gay, lesbian, and bisexual
individuals and their allies."
Daley added that because of the
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IWeleihuita Federation 18 Yowl.
6 ited " :; h7l
the irta*ShodeOlde to Nod
nano
on for • in L
Concord New Hampshire. - In another chapter of the
story of former teacher turned murderess, Pamela Smart lost an
s acramen t ° , , i w r i t f orn ki: L oca l stu d ents set u p a h ot li ne appeal tefore the US Supreme Court to have her 1991 conviction
.
to tutonymously' anyone who brings a. gun to school. overturned.
Haiti: President Clinton ordered the withdrawal of non-tornbat
troops from Haitian waters Tuesday, hut warned he was "dead
serious"' abititit returning power to oustedlteildent Jean-Benninde
Aristide, Vritlechikm cane one day aftlethe U; =Harms County
was blockerlfroni docking in Haiti.
Sr:Mails: , On 'Friday, President Clinton ordered 5,300 more
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tamps to Somoha. He is sending,dkemlo ; !ifinish the work we set
out to db,`! 'President Clinton alio,aseured the e.adowthat the troops
,
would be withdrawn by March 31, 1994 t '. -
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Detroit: The. two Dctroit ► ' c officers convicted of
beating a totem tS Witt• Larry leverslevers
Behrend's first Ally Day
lack of support at Behrend, many
gay, lesbian, and bisexual
students and staff may feel they
cannot be open about
themselves.
Pat Griffin and Charmaine
Wijeyesinghe, experts on
heterosexism and homophobia,
said social and psychological
isolation can take a huge toll on
an individual.
Homosexual youths are 2-3
times more likely to commit
suicide. They comprise 30% of
successfully completed suicides
annually.
Many people have difficulty
accepting homosexuality because
they are not exposed to gay,
lesbian, and bisexual individuals.
Griffin and Wijeyesinghe,
commented, "Because of the
possible backlash, lack of safety,
and the ramifications of being
openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual
on campus, faculty, staff, and
student role models may not be
visible...lnvisibility feeds
homophobia because it allows
people to assume there are no
gay, lesbian or bisexual people
on campus," the report stated.
The anonymous Trigon Vice
President said, "Most people
would be shocked at the people
who are gay, people who are in
fraternities, and who play sports
and everything."
Re wont on to - say how
different Behrend is from
University Park. "I was surprised
to see the people at University
Park [who previously attended
Behrend] who came out because
of the different environment
there."
Sharain Naylor stated "I'd like
to see an environment at Behrend
in which other people can feel
free to come out and that is a
goal Trigon is working
towards."
Jeff bmmennan/Confributing Photographer
Time out: Assistant News Editor Tom Keefe, far right, glances over the Ally Day table in the
Reed Union Building.
The homosexual community
at Behrend has been, for the
most part, tolerated by students,
faculty, and staff, Daley said.
Up until Ally Day there were
no reported cases of violence
against homosexuals at Behrend.
The first case was documented
on Ally Day.
Sharain Naylor was assaulted
by John Rossamando, a student
at Behrend. Naylor stated "It's
not right that I should have to
hide anything about
myself...there's no reason for me
to be oppressed...l know who I
am... 1 know I'm a good
person...why should I have to
hkle?"
_Ala
MEE
-4tt
Police and Safety are trying to
resolve the situation.
According to Griffin and
Wijeyesinghe, "A gay, lesbian,
or bisexual person, or an ally
may become tired and burned out
from having to educate
colleagues, be a role model for
others, etc...this can affect
physical and emotional health,
motivation, etc."
Many times the work that
gay, lesbian and bisexuals do is
not appreciated. Sharain Naylor
commented, "We always make
more signs than we need because
we know that by the first day
more than twenty will be ripped
down, and after we take down the
nce
New York City: Jeers for "Cheers" star Ted Danson who is
being eritized for his performance in blaekface at the New York
Friars Club Roast for girlfriend Whoppi Goldberg.
Erie: The annual shutdown of International Paper's Hammermill
plant was delayed until March 1994 due to economic problems.
This decision has members of local union 620 deeply concerned
Over the future of the plant.
Wesleyvilie: Erie County Judge George Levin ordered the
demolition of the former Penn Theater on Buffalo Road. According
to borough officials, the building has been a safety hazard and an
eyesore for several years.
1 0 1 .t. n p r
: A
signs that people have written
on, there aren't many left."
Over 115 students, faculty,
and staff members became allies.
Dr. Kathleen Campbell said,
"I think it is a very important
event to recognize the
importance of full rights for
every group on campus...l was
proud to show my support."
Pam Leins, third semester
DUS major added, "I believe
Ally Day was a complete
slier , "
David Shields, director of
Student Activities stated, "The
work that everyone put into the
program was evident...lt's a
program that is long overdue."
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