The Rainbow Connection

It seems as though the "love that dare not speak its name" is finally getting some serious air-time here at the university. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues, more specifically the recent proposals presented to the Office of the Dean of Students, have been the subject of three front-page stories and two editorial columns in the past few weeks in the Cavalier Daily -- a refreshing change of course for a newspaper which in the past generally consigned coverage of such issues to the "Life" section. The coverage has been solid and responsible, despite the initial misinformation about Dean Glenna Chang's official relationship with lgbt students at U.Va. (To reiterate: U.Va. has never had and still does not have a dean whose official job description includes dealing with lgbt issues.) Last Friday's editorial column on the subject, however, in a confusing rhetorical gesture, both commended the recent initiatives presented to the ODOS and questioned the proposals' ability to change attitudes regarding lgbt issues at U.Va. Indeed, to many the proposals may seem hopelessly institutional: resource library in the ODOS, publicity regarding lgbt resources, Leadership 2000 participation, resident staff training -- a far cry from the exhilaration of a Queer Nation-style mall-raid. Truth be told, the six proposals aren't about directly combatting homophobia at the university. They're about providing the resources to help individuals.

The lack of a more welcoming attitude towards lgbt people at U.Va. is the result of one of those vicious cycles endemic to all recalcitrant social issues. More people don't come out of the closet because the community is hostile. The community is hostile because more people don't come out. Ad infinitum. Ad absurdum.

So how do you break the cycle? You empower lgbt people to carry themselves beyond the dominant discourses of heteronormativity: You give them books to read. You give them a website to visit. You give their leaders access to the inner-workings of the administration. You give them public support by speaking out when issues arise. You give them resident staff members know how to help them out. You give them a voice in the adminstration to look after their interests.

As activist Urvashi Vaid told us last semester, however exhilarating it may be to yell "We're here! We're queer! Get used to it!" that will get you only so far. Before straight people can "get used to it," lgbt people need to make sure that they are "used to it" themselves. As Kermit the Frog didn't say, it's not easy being gay. But there's a lot we can do to make it easier.

-- JPS