Let's consider the actual words that Mr. Sutherland used: "Don't ideologically molest my children with your rainbow propaganda." This was the first message painted over a fluorescent striped pattern, which had been painted to promote Kids Day. Although TTLGBC was not associated with Kids Day, and the striped pattern on the cannon was, by the coincidence of a rainbow, Mr. Sutherland apparently believed that the use of such a pattern to promote the event was threatening to children because of its association with queer pride. Instead of expressing this view via non-inflammatory language, Mr. Sutherland deliberately used the word "molest," promoting a derogatory stereotype of queer people as child molesters.
The second message was even more blunt: "Imagine a campus free from queer perverts." It is worth taking notice of Mr. Sutherland's use of the word "perverts." By using this word, Mr. Sutherland distinguished his statement from a purely political view, and instead made it an explicitly derogatory remark. Mr. Sutherland's words constitute "hate speech" because they attack members of a targeted group with deliberately offensive language. In addition to his choice of words, the fact that Mr. Sutherland chose to paint his message in broad daylight leads me to believe he intended to be deliberately provocative.
Some may question the decision to cover up Mr. Sutherland's first message. The TUPD made such a decision after having received phone calls from students about the offensive nature of this message. Tufts University, as a private institution, has the right to define what it considers offensive, and to respond accordingly. Since Mr. Sutherland's message attacked a specific group and used derogatory language, it fell within the boundaries of what Tufts considers offensive language, and thus facilities was justified in covering up the message.
Students covered up the second message themselves. While they violated the "unofficial rules" concerning the appropriate time to paint the cannon, they justified their response in two ways. They felt that since Mr. Sutherland had already ignored the policy by painting the cannon in broad daylight, they should be allowed to do the same. Also, considering the extremely offensive and threatening nature of Mr. Sutherland's actions, they felt that it was extremely necessary to counter with a positive message of queer pride.
Various people have offered the view that the queer community is being overly "sensitive" to both Mr. Sutherland's hate speech and to other events on campus during the past two weeks. I cannot and would not presume to speak for the entire queer community at Tufts, so I will instead speak just for myself. I don't think it's too much to ask to live and study in a setting where I can feel safe. Mr. Sutherland's attack was with words, but nonetheless, it was still an attack.
Over the past two weeks, certain members of the queer community have engaged in activities that assert our visibility and pride. I took part in these actions, and I did it because I wanted to fight back against both the actions of individuals like Mr. Sutherland and the inactivity of select groups within the University. Maybe some would question my tactics: covering the campus with rainbow ribbons during April Open House, chalking directly in front of Bendetson, and covering up Mr. Sutherland's messages. There was a specific reason I did all of these things. Although I cannot claim to understand Mr. Sutherland's psyche, I feel that his actions were an attempt to silence me and make me think twice about being visible and active on behalf of the queer community.
I have faced such pressures for as long as I can remember. Although Mr. Sutherland's actions frighten me, they do not surprise me. And while there was a time when such actions would have scared me into silence, that time has passed.
As long as people like Mr. Sutherland exist, I will be standing here, with others, as living proof that his tactics are wrong. I am queer. I am not a pervert. I am not a child molester. The feelings I have are genuine and true, and they will not go away, no matter how hard people like Mr. Sutherland try.
Vanessa Dillen is a junior majoring in international relations. She is an active member of Tufts' LGBT community.
