Pride Week draws crowds

Gay and straight students alike attended a multitude of events—including a performance by transgender actors, a talk by a lesbian historian, and a screening and chat with a filmmaker—associated with the LGBT Co-op's Pride Week, which ends Sat., Mar. 31 with the Co-op dance. The functions were received enthusiastically by many students.

"I think there's been a lot of interest from people," Queer-Straight Alliance Co-coordinator Casey Pitts, BK '03, said. "The coordinators should be congratulated on a job well done."

MELISSA GARREN/YH Pride Week attracted a large and diverse group of participants.

According to Laura Horak, CC '03, who coordinated the week, turnout for the event was surprisingly high, with more than 50 people at some events. "It has exceeded my expectations," Horak said. "I've seen a lot of people attending who aren't part of the regular Co-op crowd."

Issues of diversity within the queer community tended to take center stage throughout the week.

One panel, entitled "Creating a Queer-Friendly Asian America," was particularly well attended. The discussion featured Asian-American graduate students, artists, and activists in an attempt to "understand how ethnic communities can understand and address the needs of their queer members," panel organizer Sunita Puri, DC '02, said. "[The panel] is virtually the first of its kind and has not been addressed or included in any other pride activity I know of."

Despite the Asian-American panel and a performance by Gigi Otalvaro-Hormillosa, a Filipino-Colombian-American, some students criticized the Co-op for a lack of emphasis on minority issues. "I wish the Co-op had worked more with individual ethnic groups to promote ethnic minority involvement and participation," Puri said.

Horak admitted that the level of minority representation was problematic—her original vision for the week included more people of color. "Practical matters, like a lack of funds and contacts, prevented us from getting some of the speakers we wanted," Horak said. "But I think the petition is a testament to the Co-op's concern about issues of diversity in the queer community."

Horak referred to a circulating petition addressed to Dean of Yale College Richard Brodhead, BR '68, GRD '72, Provost Alison Richard, GRD '86, and University President Levin, GRD '74, calling for increased support from the University for gay and lesbian studies. The appeal explicitly calls on Yale to support programs that are "inclusive" with "time and funding given to all facets of gay life."

"I think the petition is attempting to do good things and is trying to be inclusive," one student said. "But because of the way gay and lesbian studies courses are generally taught, I don't know if money or support will necessarily change things."

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