Rally attendees wore purple and carried signs bearing encouraging messages during Wednesday’s rally, sponsored by Tech’s LGBTA.
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Students and community members of all ages gathered on campus Wednesday night together to support the local and national gay communities.
The Queer Grads and Allies group, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual Alliance, the LGBT Caucus and the New River Valley chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays came together to support the “It Gets Better” rally.
About 50 attendees, dressed in purple and rainbow outfits, ranged in age from young children to older adults and included Virginia Tech students of both genders, some of whom brought along four-legged companions, as well.
People across the nation, united through Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and other social networking websites, celebrated a “Spirit Day” today.
During the rally on Tech’s campus, attendees shared stories about coming out and challenges they faced with friends, families and religious groups.
The theme of the evening was “It gets better,” and many speakers, most of whom did not identify themselves, ended their statements with “it does get better.”
“Even if you think it is hard for people accepting you and loving you, it does get better,” one speaker said.
“There’s so much going on that really upsets me,” another speaker said, “But... our support system is really getting better.”
Some spoke about their struggles with gay or lesbian life.
One student, who immigrated from Korea, said he had a hard time growing up gay in a country that doesn’t believe in homosexuality.
“I came to America and I found all these gay people, like a fairy tale come true,” he said.
The rally was also designed to object to the recent suicides of LGBT youth that have taken place over the past few months.
One speaker talked about his previous suicidal thoughts because of his sexual orientation and encouraged the crowd to support their gay friends.
“There is nothing anyone can say if that person cannot find hope,” he said.
Another speaker encouraged the crowd.
“I love you all and I love Virginia Tech, and never let anyone get you down,” she said. “God really does love you.”
Vice President of Student Affairs Ed Spencer was one of the attendees sporting purple.
“I’m a very strong ally,” Spencer said. “I get very concerned about the kinds of things we’re seeing (on other campuses).”
A version of this article appeared in the Oct 21 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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"Spencer said he hoped someday the issue of gay and lesbian rights could be viewed in a similar fashion to how Americans today look back on the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, which he said he experienced during his years in college."
Get over yourselves your experience today is nothing like the struggles of blacks in this country back in the 60s. Your not segregated in all aspects of society into an inferior substitute as a means of perpetuating the economic disadvantages blacks faced during the post slavery era. Gays have it better in this country than anywhere else in the world. Your not being lynched for looking at a white woman wrong or denied admission to businesses. Is it perfect for gays in this country, no, but comparing your experience to blacks is like comparing stubbing your toe to getting KO'd by Tyson.
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I think what he was referring to is the blind hate from the 60s. It is not an issue of HOW MUCH struggle people dealt with - it is the idea of unjust, unwarranted, unconditional hate. People used to hate people because they were black. Currently, people hate gays...because they are gay. I don't think Dr. Spencer is trying to say that he knows what it is like - he is a white, privileged, heterosexual, male (as am I). I have so many privileges in this country, and mostly because of sheer luck. However, in my eyes, I saw that Dr. Spencer....hopes that one day, we can look back and say "what were people thinking???" -- like my parent's generation does when they reminisce about the 60's.
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Gays are widely accepted by today's society were is this blind hate that the blacks experienced? Any gay person can have any job he wants, go anywhere he wants and be with whatever adult he wants. It's just some out of touch intellectual that wants to be a victim. He's trying to make a mountain out of a molehill and he's ruining the legitimate lessons that we can learn from the civil rights struggles in the process.
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You seem to have a lot of self loathing Brandon. The use of the term "privileged" suggests to me that you went to every left wing speaker that came to Tech and took everything they said without questioning it.
The gay movement going on now is NOTHING like the black struggle for civil rights. The blacks endured great discrimination because of their skin color and concentrated harrassment and violence, particularly in the South, for decades. Being black wasn't anything that could be muted.
Now you have the gays who are trying to identify themselves as a class that is equivalent in terms of it's struggle to blacks. Yet they are not a race. It is a behavior, one of choice. That is not the same thing. Tech tolerated them just fine. I can think of several professors whom I had dealings/classes with who were gay. They haven't been denied the right to vote, lynched by the Klan or forced to go to segregated schools, as blacks of the civil rights era had been.
And I resent the recruitment that Catrupi is doing here. Trying to indoctrinate young secondary school students into unquestionably accepting the homosexual agenda and thus serving as foot soldiers to shut down anyone else who questions or objects to it.
What one does in their own house is their business. But when it leaves the house and comes into the public spotlight, that becomes society's business.
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I am not self loathing. As a white, heterosexual, male....I know that there are opportunities that exist for me that may not be presented to others....and that is wrong. The idea of homosexuality being a choice is widely debated. In my opinion, no one in society wants to CHOOSE to be considered a 2nd class citizen (tax advantages for being married, shunned by society as a whole), not accepted by their family, and ostracized by society/people. I do agree - what black people endured in the 60s is far greater than anyone will endure in their life.
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I do disagree agree with the first reply, however. Gays are not widely accepted by today's society. Familys sometimes don't accept their children if they are gay...that has to be more crushing than anything else in the world. No one 'wants' to be a victim - why would you ever say such a thing?
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Families not accepting their kids is not a society thing it's not even on the same level. Blacks were rejected by society that's a big difference. Society is okay with homosexuals, they're free to be gay. Blacks weren't free to be themselves they had to be step it and fetch it until recently. By trying to tie the two events together the professor is trying to victimize himself and the group as a whole. If gays are victims it helps advance gay rights with moderates because they have the sympathy card. Don't be naive Brandon there are advantages to being a victim especially when your just pretending to be one.
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Good point. Hate in any form is bad. The recent suicides have shown how much hate effects people.
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Right hate is bad but there's a big difference between hate on an individual level and an organized hatred by a society as a whole. Everyone is subjected to hate on an individual level we all share that in common.
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I don't think you can accurately depict the two at all. Though I will say that actually, the struggle for women and gays, both white and of Color has been longer standing than the struggle for rights for Black men.
For example, gays received almost zero visibility compared to civil rights movements in the 60's and 70's. You weren't considered diseased for being Black, though you were if you were gay or lesbian.
The point is that Black men are no longer struggling for national acceptance as human beings entitled to human rights, gays and lesbians of all races are.
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You were considered diseased if you dated a black in the 60s. Interracial relationships resulted in lynchings back then. Gays aren't struggling for human rights these days. Any gay can be with any other gay we have no problem with that as a society. There is no struggle for human rights you have them.
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So what about the short kids, fat kids, ugly kids, strange kids etc who also are bullied on a daily basis? Do we have a special shirt day for them too?
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The same shirt, LGBTA helped sponsor the event. But everyone who was bullied has a similar experience. They all can learn from people who came out on top after being bullied.
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I think hes saying that why are only Gay topics being discussed in terms of bullying. answer? bandwagon. Are we standing up for Obese rights? No. Yet I bet the fat kid gets picked on throughout his life a heck of a lot more.
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Being fat is way more of a choice than being attracted to the same sex.
Being short/ugly/nerdy is more legitimate.
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I believe we're not fighting for obese rights because what rights are obese people lacking? I believe no one should be bullied, no matter how big, small, what race, what sexuality, what they look like, etc. However in terms of fighting for rights, obese people do not have any laws prohibiting them from getting married, etc
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So what about the short kids, fat kids, ugly kids, strange kids etc who also are bullied on a daily basis? Do we have a special shirt day for them too?
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Being fat is a choice
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So is being gay.
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Nathan many people would disagree
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They would be wrong Kelsey.
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Is is a choice? What if it's a glandular disorder or two people (a male and female) who got cut from the "Biggest Loser" tryouts humped...9 months later....BAM you're born destin to be FAT the rest of your life. BOOM BADDA BOOM BADDA BOOM! Guess you chose wrong!
OR
What if you're FAT and GAY???? If you're ever feeling down, just think of that scenario and you'll feel better.
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Fat and Gay like poor Fez Whatley, too afraid to announce he's gay despite the fact that we all know. Fezzy W this next shot's for you, Titos!
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"Glandular disorders" are such a load of crap. Being fat is simply calories in > calories out. That's all.
It's like a nonsmoker worrying about getting cancer because his two parents both chain-smoked every day and got lung cancer.
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I could not attend this rally but am so pleased to know that the Hokie community is continuing to embrace its own and stand in solidarity with homosexual teens and young adults. With the recent incidents of bullying, harassment, and aggression shown to gay and lesbian teens this event reveals a positive light and hope for those who might feel intimidated or ostracized for their sexuality. Kudos to VT!
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I could not attend this rally but am so pleased to know that the Hokie community is continuing to embrace its own and stand in solidarity with homosexual teens and young adults. With the recent incidents of bullying, harassment, and aggression shown to gay and lesbian teens this event reveals a positive light and hope for those who might feel intimidated or ostracized for their sexuality. Kudos to VT!
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Hey what's the difference between this
http://www.sfgsl.org/
and this
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/20/whites-only-basketball-le_n_429281.html
The answer one groups segregation we accept and the other group's we demonize.
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Kind of like the NAACP too
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The difference is that the softball league makes it clear in the very middle of the homepage that it is open to both homosexuals and heterosexuals. There is no segregation there
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You'd be wrong there each team is only allowed to have 2 heterosexuals and they count bisexuals as hetero.
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There were about 150 people at the rally, not 50.
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