More positive than before
RyePride took a stand against homophobia and heterosexism last week with the re-launch of its Positive Space Campaign. Speakers discussed the need for a positive, inclusive campus and the need for acceptance of all sexual orientations.
"We are looking at ways to understand and positively respond to our students' needs," said Ryerson President Claude Lajeunesse. Lajeunesse praised the efforts of the committee and stressed the importance of "touching our community in ways that are constructive."
"You can't deal with an issue if you don't know what the issue is," he said.
Another speaker, professor George Bielmeier, talked about the study that published in 2000 after almost a decade of work. Bielmeier spoke of what he would like to see.
"Our challenge is to create a vision that reflects a truly inclusive community," Bielmeier said.
Ryerson has a long history of gay and lesbian activist groups on campus. GLBT students began organizing in the 1970s by forming a group known as Gays at Ryerson. In the 1980s the group began to increase both its membership and visibility through posters and events. During this time, the group changed its name to the more inclusive, Bisexuals, Gays, and Lesbians of Ryerson (BGALOR).
In November of 1991, BGALOR made recommendations to then Ryerson president Terry Grier that were intended to increase acceptance of GLBTs on campus.
In July of 1992 an advisory committee was formed to address the issues of homophobia and heterosexism. The group worked for seven years on a collaborative study, which was published in March of 2000. Some of the student remarks included in the survey include:
-"I don't tell people I'm heterosexual, so why would a gay go around saying they're gay?"
-"God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. Seek help. They don't deserve any rights."
The Positive Space campaign began as a poster campaign in 1996. The campaign's current incarnation started last summer. The campaign's goal is to show spaces where people have knowledge of queer issues and are accepting of all sexual orientations.
Also on hand for the event was former RyeSAC president and RyePride member Darren Cooney. He told the audience how important they were to the cause.
"These little stickers and posters make a big difference in some people's lives. People like you make sure it doesn't turn into wallpaper."
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