When I first left New Hampshire to come to Boston University in the Fall of the year 2000 I had the impression that I was entering a more educated, open-minded world. A majority of the time I have found this to be true. But, the recent actions and statements of John Silber have made me think otherwise. When I read that John Silber had ordered to have BU Academy’s Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) shut down I was appalled. I was aware that I disagreed with him on many issues but I never knew that it had reached such a catastrophic level.
If Silber is concerned with the direction of groups such as BU Academy’s GSA then he should offer support and guidance. Termination of such support groups is highly unnecessary and will do more harm than good. He should work with a group rather than shut it down.
Silber stated that he sees a GSA as a group that “demands” people come out of the closet. A GSA isn’t about demanding people to be gay. It is about motivating people to be themselves. It helps to give youth the courage to be who they are on the inside which leads to a positive outcome. I have grown so much as a result of coming out. I am closer to my family who has supported me one hundred percent. I am incredibly grateful for their love. Not everyone is as lucky as I have been. I am more open with my peers than when I was in the closet. Holding back such a big part of who I was made me feel as though I couldn’t discuss much of anything with anyone for fear that a conversation about my sexuality would pop up. I hate lying to people so I avoided any conversations deeper than small talk with my friends and family. Thinking that nobody would ever know the real me made me feel isolated, stealing much of my self-confidence. I honestly thought that half of me would never have the chance to live.
Putting an end to BU Academy’s GSA will only create more isolation for these youth who deserve to have an organization where they can be heard. If Silber thinks that “there is not a need [for a GSA] in a school the size of the Academy,” then he should talk to the students themselves and make sure that his claim is true. Judging from what I have read and observed, his views are way off. If the students feel that they need a GSA then there should be a GSA. BU Academy is a private school and John Silber does have the right to organize it the way he wants to but that doesn’t make him right. My heart goes out to the queer and queer allies of BU Academy who have just had one of the doors to acceptance slammed in their face.
Tiffany L. Elliott CAS ’04