Over the past couple of weeks, there has been a series of homophobic incidents on and around the Tufts campus. There have been reports of abrasive comments and the alleged assault of a gay student. To add insult to injury, the Tufts Republicans put on a program that, while it purported to offer an alternative view on same-sex marriage, in fact was nothing more than a presentation of homophobic opinions supported by either manipulated information or none at all.
The Tufts campus is, in general, a safe place for LGBT students, but these incidents undermine that security. The fact that the majority of reported bias incidents both nationwide and on Tufts' campus are homophobic in nature, and that so many significant incidents occurred within a week, should worry more than the targeted students and their fellow LGBT members. This is an issue that is relevant to the entire Tufts community.
Anyone who does not fit traditional gender norms may draw feelings of hatred to themselves or those around them, including friends, roommates and significant others. By dismissing bias incidents such as graffiti etched on white boards or an epithet flung during a drunken argument as isolated or insignificant, we set the groundwork for more violent actions by creating a campus tolerant of homophobia.
Perhaps the most disturbing thing is the decision of the Tufts Republicans to bring speakers to campus who are blatantly homophobic. Two of the speakers merely spoke from opinion instead of engaging in the intellectual discourse that was advertised. The third speaker, Dr. John Diggs, based his presentation on a paper he published entitled "The Health Risks of Gay Sex" (available online at http://www.corporateresourcecouncil.org), in which he claims that gay men engage in promiscuity and other risky sexual behavior simply because they are gay.
While he could have presented an argument that promiscuity and unprotected sex present public health risks, the fact that he chose to focus only on gay male sex reveals the overt, essentialist homophobia inherent in his work. Dr. Diggs agreed with the other speakers and even went so far as to claim that gay people do not exist, only "heterosexual people with homosexual problems."
Contrary to what this forum showcased, it is possible to make a legitimate argument against same-sex marriage that is not grounded in bigotry. In fact, not all LGBT people are in favor of same-sex marriage. If Tufts Republicans wanted to engage in an intelligent discussion about same-sex marriage, they could have presented a program that represented several viewpoints and staged a debate. Instead, they sponsored a panel that perpetuated damaging myths about LGBT people, and gay men in particular.
Students are often inclined to believe that Tufts is a place where this kind of hatred does not exist. But the recent events on campus prove that Tufts is this kind of place. Hatred is on Tufts' campus. We, as members of the community, must recognize and own this truth. Before these incidents, many queer students already walked around campus in a state of cautiousness. Wearing a rainbow pin on your bag or holding the hand of your significant other of your same sex are bold statements to make.
These are actions LGBT students have no choice but to think about, but for the average straight student, holding someone's hand is a non-issue. For queer students, these actions may elicit violence or hate speech, but more commonly draw stares or muttered comments. While these responses leave the individual relatively unscathed, the cumulative effects of such actions can take a heavy psychological toll.
We are not trying to silence anyone in expressing his or her political views. Dialogue is a vital part of learning, but when views are expressed through personal attacks (and we do feel that the opinions presented by the panelists personally targeted queer students), they damage any possibility for the open exchange of ideas that characterizes productive discussion. We believe that homophobia and other forms of bias are rooted in ignorance, and it is only through an open exchange of ideas that we can combat that ignorance.
With the passage of 11 state constitutional amendments to ban same-sex marriage across the country this election, it is clear that this is a relevant debate to be having, regardless of your opinion on the issue. However, we must foster open debate, not attack each other as individuals. The Bias Response Team is committed to ending hatred and ignorance on campus through productive dialogue. Please join us at an upcoming open forum to discuss bias and its effects on campus. Details of the event will be posted on Tuftslife.com as soon as they are finalized.
Sarah Sahn and Alex Weissman are Peer Educators on the Bias Response Team. They are both seniors majoring in American Studies.
