A turbulent summer for gay issues

The summer of 2003 was an historic one for gay rights, although the victories were threatened by backlashes from some government officials and religious groups.

Andrew Chapman, one of the co-coordinators of Tufts Transgender, Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Collective (TTLGBC), said the media coverage surrounding the events would help raise awareness of issues and educate the Tufts community about the issues.

One of the biggest gains came in June when the Canadian Supreme Court declared the government's definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman unconstitutional. The Canadian government chose to comply with the ruling by redefining marriage as a union between two people, effectively legalizing same-sex marriages. Belgium and the Netherlands are the only other countries that recognize same-sex marriages.

In the US, the Supreme Court voted 6-3 to nullify several state statutes that banned sodomy. While bans were rarely enforced, the decision was an important symbolic victory for the gay community.

"The fact that the [Supreme Court] decision was to lift it indicates that at least some individuals and groups deciding the constitutionality of certain laws no longer fear supporting the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgendered) community when the community presents proper cases," Chapman said. He hopes this support will encourage students at Tufts to become more politically involved with gay rights issues.

Gay students have already made advances at Tufts. In April, Hillel community held a simulated same-sex civil union ceremony. Chapman was pleased with the event, remarking how it "(showed) some strong support from the religious branch of the Jewish community at Tufts."

But advances by gays have met opposition: President Bush has declared his opposition to gay marriage several times since the Supreme Court's sodomy ruling. In late July, Bush's press office said the President "believes strongly that marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman."

"The President is strongly committed to protecting and defending the sanctity of marriage," an official statement said. Bush's lawyers are currently looking for ways to legally limit marriage to heterosexuals, although he has announced he is not favor of a constitutional amendment.

Others joined Bush in the backlash against the recent increase in acceptance of same-sex marriage. In a twelve-page document released in July, the Vatican reiterated its disapproval of same-sex marriage. The set of guidelines carefully pointed out that gays should not be discriminated against, but was quick to assert that denying marriage rights to the gay community is not discrimination because "marriage is holy while homosexual acts go against the natural moral law."

Calling support of same-sex marriage "gravely immoral," the document launched a global campaign against it by calling on Catholic politicians to fulfill their "moral duty" to publicly oppose and vote against laws that recognize same-sex marriages. Although the Vatican did not mention penalties or punishments for individuals that do not comply with this global campaign, some fear this condemnation may lead to an increase in bias incidents and hostility towards gays.

Despite any possible backlash, Chapman feels that this summer's events will make a positive impact on the Tufts community.

"With all the media coverage regarding the cases regarding sodomy and same-sex marriage, the Tufts community can do nothing but become more educated about LGBT issues and concerns," he said.