Homophobia in UCD

by che Wed Feb 18, 2004 02:20

any social order that attempts to manage unmanageable sexual impulses by punishing the people who elicit them: a foolproof recipe for hell on earth.

by Browser Wed Feb 18, 2004 03:03

If I learned one thing there, it is that all the talk of university 'broadening the mind' is rubbish when it comes to sexuality! Could it be that universities, which one might expect to be the perfect arena for exploring your sexuality with others of a similar mind, are actually among the most homophobic institutions in the State? Anyone from the other colleges have an opinion on this?

by sos Wed Feb 18, 2004 13:06

More here:
http://www.gcn.ie/newgcn/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1503

I don't really know how to take it.

by Archbishop Mc Quaid Wed Feb 18, 2004 16:31

Arch Homophobes still organised in UCD.
Investigate?

by Greg Wed Feb 18, 2004 21:21

I haven't read the forum; there were probably some weirdos on it. But back to the main point: rainbow week.

I think it's very valid to ask what is its point? It's all very well but it does not suit someone struggling with their sexuality who does not identify with the people in the society, or those organising the Rainbow Week (dumb title) or Pride or whatever stupid name the gay
mafia comes up with.

Thing like Rainbow Week but people into boxes; by being part of them you are joining the Will & Grace school of gayness. So people do have a right to question this. Seems to me a lot of the Rainbow Week people are scouring the internet for anti-Rainbow messages, waiting to find something 'offensive'

by reiltin Thu Feb 19, 2004 17:37

Greg, firstly I'm personally enraged by your slating of the title of the week. It used to be called Anti-Homophobia Week, but that was changed to a more unlifting & positive name this year, assumably because it was thought that todays world is more accepting. I'm not even going to touch the rediculous "gay mafia" thing. Do you listen to yourself when you're thinking or just say the first imbecilic thing that jumps into your head?
The point is to try & reach as many people as possible. If they don't identify with the people in the society, that's fine. Information is provided of lots of the different LGBTQ organisations, eg Gay Switchboard, all of whom can provide help, support, etc, if needed. Often, the only "identifying with" someone needs to do, is to realise that they are not the only LGBTQ person around. It's enough for some people to know that they are not alone. That simple fact can give someone the encouragement they need to come out to themselves & others.
Nobody needs to scour the internet for anti-LGBTQ messages when they are being e-mailed to the people running the campaign. It is enough for posters to be put up, to get homophobic graffiti. Nobody wants the offensive (& why you've put that in inverted commas I don't know because being called deviant actually is offensive) messages to come, but they do. And they have to be dealt with as quickly as possible so that people know that it's not ok to be homophobic or to demean other people. This is especially important for people in positions of power, like lecturers, to know. It is not acceptable. And we will fight back.

by juNOONi- UCD Thu Feb 19, 2004 18:37

It's a sign of your enculturated prejudice if you fail to appreciate the purpose of Rainbow Week. Do you also perhaps question the need to hold a womyn's week? cultural diversity week?

Can you at all appreciate the sense of threat and fear experienced sometimes on a daily basis by womyn, people of colour, &/or homosexuals? Ever been discriminated against or indeed physically assaulted for the colour of your skin? your sexual orientaion? raped?

No? surprise, surprise....

UCD's Rainbow Week Positive Space campaign sought to highlight the need to create a safe environment in which staff, students can live, work, study regardless of their sexual orientation. It followed and built upon the initiatives of Cultural Diversity and Womyn's weeks.

My question for you Greg is, given the appalling and absolutely disgusting (need I add hostile?) homophobic responses by certain UCD lecturers and students, would an openly gay student/staff member now not feel a greater level of threat at UCD?

Is that acceptable to you?

Does it not only expose the deeply held prejudicial attitudes (and discriminatory actions!) of certain staff and students against others based on sexual orientation?

Is that acceptable to you?

And finally, does it not, as Reeuq pointed out, only expose the need for and importance of the positive space campaign?

***Well done to all the heads involved in the Rainbow Week campaign. You're my heros!***

by Ian Fri Feb 20, 2004 17:46

What would you rather as a title for Rainbow Week, Greg? "Week to counter the ignorant and discriminatory attitudes of others towards non-heterosexuality Week"? "Dealing with the bullshit of homophobic members of society in as positive a way as you can Week"? The name "Rainbow Week" somehow beat these other gems.

Your perception of the LGB Society as a "Will and Grace" centre reflects your own homophobic attitude towards a society that simpy aims to try and make life for lesbian, gay and bisexual students a little less dificult; it is not a reflection on the society. If you bothered to open your mind maybe you could see something other than a tv character in LGB students. This campaign plays a very important role for those who, although they may not even be members of the Soc, feel encouragement from the visible fact that there are other gay people on campus. We feel solidarity through positive posters is more appropriate than the gay population being identified by wearing pink triangles. But maybe you'd prefer that?

by Dermot L Mon Feb 23, 2004 19:14

One particularly homophobic post had to be deleted from the boards. Fear of non-heterosexuality seems, alas, to be alive and well in UCD and elsewhere.