Co-op rally encourages bigots to come out

On Wed, Nov. 6, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Co-op and the Q-caucus at Yale held a Coming Out rally on Cross Campus. Rather than encouraging homosexuals to come out of the closet, Wednesday's rally called on homophobes to come out of their's.

According to oprganizers, the purpose of the speak-out/bash-in was to provide a forum in which views regarding the homosexual community at Yale could be brought out in the open in a rational, civilized manner. It was also a challenge to any bigots to come out of their closets and attempt to make and defend their claims face-to-face with their victims.

Teresa Mithen, DC '98, Co-op coordinator and an organizer of the speak-out/bash-in, said, "We call it a coming out day for bigots. They harass people from 25 feet away, they make anonymous phone calls, and they give you dirty looks on the street. We are giving a forum for bigots to make their views known out in the open."

Until recently, many in the Yale homosexual community refused to bring their experiences with homophobia out into the open. Katherine Kramer, CC '99, a coordinator of the LGBT Co-op, said, "It's swept underneath the rug, and in general it's embarassing and frightening to come forward as a victim of violence or harassment. Queers have this additional barrier because they have been discriminated against."

The decision to organize the bash-in was prompted when Sara Marcus, MC '99, received an obscene and threatening phone-call by a male Yale student soon after giving a speech on National Coming Out Day on Oct. 17. She shared the incident at an LGBT Co-op meeting. Members were surprised when, after her confession, more members of the Co-op came forward with similar confessions.

Chrysanthi Settlege, MC '99, a Q-caucus coordinator, said,"People seem to think that these are isolated incidents and they are treated as such. They are not just isolated incidents, they are part of a larger problem."

According to Settlege, the refusal of the Administration to offer any help when she came forward with the threats she received signals a larger problem. "The first time I had a problem with homophobia at Yale [and sought help], I was referred to mental health," Chrysanthi said.

At the speak-out, which attracted about 200 people to Cross Campus, signs with samples of some of the phone threats people had received were put on display to show to the severity of the attacks. Speeches were then given by members of the Co-op and confessions were made by victims of threatening phone-calls and other acts of homophobia.

Some "bigots" had the courage to come out of the closet during the speak-out. One man confessed to having done "gay-bashing" in the past and made a public apology. Another speaker, claiming not to be a bigot, gave a speech on how he did not discriminate against homosexuals but merely viewed homosexuality as being morally wrong.

Both speeches were received calmly and attentively by the crowd, despite their content. "We want to have discussions and not confrontations. We welcome free expression of views in a rational manner, as long as it is not accompanied by violence or threats," Mithen said.

Despite the apparent success of the speak-out/bash-in, members of the homosexual community regret that events had to go in this direction.

Progress has been made, however, and, according to Mithen, recent discussions have shown the Administration and Chaplain's office to be "receptive and supportive". Plans are also in the works by the Q-caucus and the LGBT Co-op to facilitate discussion and to address the problem of homophobia.

As for the speak-out/bash-in, Mithen said,"It is the beginning of our fight to end bigotry at Yale."