Throughout her four years at Boston University, College of Communication senior Marie McGwier said she has seen an influx of queer support groups on campus.
“BU has come a really long way,” McGwier said. “It still has a really long way to come. The fact that anyone feels like they need to hide or [that] anyone does face discrimination is terrible, and it’s something that definitely needs to change.”
McGwier said she will likely participate in Friday’s National Day of Silence to continue to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer students. The Queer Activist Collective, Spectrum, OUTlook and the Center for Gender, Sexuality and Activism are among groups demonstrating against LGBTQ harassment.
“[The Day of Silence is] a way for people to realize we all need to be actively working to be making schools safer for all students, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender expression and identity,” said COM senior and Q President Michelle Weiser.
Activists will be standing silently in Marsh Plaza from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., surrounded by colorful balloons, handing out flyers advocating the message of the Day of Silence, Weiser said.
“[We’re] putting ourselves out there as a resource and saying, ‘We’re here, we support you,’” she said.
Nationwide, the Day of Silence is intended to raise awareness about the discomfort and bullying LGBTQ students face in school.
“Nine out of 10 LGBTQ students feel that they experience harassment in school, especially in middle school and high school,” Weiser said.
McGwier said one goal the LGBTQ community is working toward is raising awareness about not using insensitive language.
“There’s been a big push not to use the word ‘gay,’” she said. “People don’t realize that it really affects people.”
Offensive language often comes in the form of jokes, Weiser said.
“If there’s a gay person walking by and they hear you joking about faggots or saying that they’re gay, that’s really harmful,” Weiser said. “[We want to] create a campus awareness to stop using those words lightly.”
Activists welcome allies of the LGBTQ community to participate in solidarity and help further the discussion.
“It’s really a way for everyone to get involved,” Weiser said. “It doesn’t matter what your gender or sexuality is.”
Though it remains important to combat harassment against the LGBTQ in universities and schools, Weiser is worried about potential harassment in the workforce after college, she said.
“I worry – can I have my queer involvement on my resume?” Weiser said. “What types of discrimination will I face when I graduate?”
Kyra James, a Metropolitan College graduate student, said she thinks the Day of Silence will create enough buzz on campus to raise awareness.
“People are going to be curious, ask questions,” she said. “It’ll definitely stir interest, maybe not in support necessarily, but the awareness will definitely be there because it’s such a prominent statement.”
She also said she notices people can be insensitive about accidentally insulting LGBTQ individuals.
“People [who] are just unaware or maybe don’t have any friends in the LGBTQ community may make fun of their friends calling them gay and things like that,” she said. “It’s definitely a prominent issue and people need to be more sensitive.”
College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Adaeze Olugbemi said the Day of Silence is not the most efficient way of raising awareness.
“I feel like not talking is kind of the opposite route you want to take,” she said.
However, she said she thinks the LGBTQ community has come a long way, especially at BU.
“I know there’s quite a large [LGBTQ] community at BU,” Olugbemi said, “so I think that really helps, knowing there are others in the same situation as you.”
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