Collegiate Times

Cynthia Burack, associate professor of women's studies at Ohio State University, will be speaking tonight at the LBGT's 4th Annual "Gay in Appalachia" series at Virginia Tech in the Old Dominion Ballroom at 6:30 p.m. in Squires Student Center.

The "Gay in Appalachia" event began four years ago with an event that resounded with the community and the group, said co-chair of the LBGT Caucus, Ken Belcher.

"We were astounded with the turnout," Belcher said. "This is a conversation that needs to happen. Appalachian people are private and stay out of each other's business. But when it comes to religion, they have strong beliefs."

Burack will be speaking about her book, "Sin, Sex, and Democracy: Antigay Rhetoric and the Christian Right".

"It's about anti-gay rhetoric and sexuality of conservative Christian groups," Burack said. "And how these groups speak about same-sex couples and homosexuality."

Jeff Mann, an associate professor in the English department, is friends with Burack. He read her book last spring and was impressed.

"I thought people would want to sponsor her for the event," Mann said. "I am really glad she could come to this event. I heard her speak about this book at the Library of Congress and know she will impress people here."

Mann was one of the first speakers at the first "Gay in Appalachia" event. Mann read from his book he had published, "Loving Mountains, Loving Men" a memoir and poetry intermixed about growing up in the area as a gay man.

The event is not the only reason Burack is coming to Virginia Tech. Belcher said Burack would also be meeting with different classes -- giving an academic component to the visit -- and would also be meeting with religious leaders and groups throughout the community.

"On Friday there will be a discussion about Burack's book," Belcher said. "We know that people have different opinions about the topic and we want to have an enlightened conversation."

The discussion will also entail the word choice and language people use to marginalize same-sex couples and homosexuals, Belcher said.

Belcher projects that faculty, students, staff, community members and religious groups will be present at the event.

"We want respectful discourse, including those who may oppose us," Belcher said. "We may change someone's mind and we may not, but at least we had an enlightened discussion instead of a hateful and yelling kind of speech that is typical with the public and press."

The LBGT Caucus at Tech was established in 1992 as an offshoot of the women's network, and since has grown to 160 members. There are many purposes for the group, Belcher said.

The first is educating and raising visibility to those who have not yet come out and acting as a beacon for those people. The LBGT Caucus also wants to involve the surrounding community, not just Tech. The group also wants to be advocates for equal pay for equal work and deal with situations as they come up with harassment and discrimination.

The event is open and free to the public.

"One thing I would hope for this event is students would learn about LBGT life and what we go through," Mann said. "And that we're just people, too, who want to live our lives without being treated badly. That is something important to be educated about."