The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

Awareness Month Continues with Lecture on Gay Terminology

Laughter filled the Kaskaskia room in the Student Center as the words "gaydar," "dutch boy" and "bog queen" flashed across the screen.

It was all part of a discussion, titled "That's so gay, is that okay?" meant to discuss gay terminology. The lecture began SIUC's first annual Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender History month.

Mike Hernandez, a graduate student in anthropology, said the lecture was geared toward newly identified gay, lesbian, bisexuals along with the heterosexual population. He said the event was meant to provide the community with an understanding of gay terminology.

"It's basically to get people to realize that the terminology that they use and how they use it really does make a difference," Hernandez said.

Hernandez said even though he believes Southern Illinois to be very conservative, it has a large gay population. He said venues and gatherings for the gay community is very small here and are held in safe areas, unlike larger, public events held in bigger cities.

"Being gay in this area is very scary," Hernandez said.

Hernandez said although SIUC's Saluki Rainbow Network is the oldest gay and lesbian group in the United States, University administration has been slow in recognizing the community.

Hernandez said that classes educating students on gay issues, more administrators who are willing to speak out about their own sexuality and giving money to support gay groups and events are some ways the University can open the communication on campus.

"I would actually like Shryock to bring a good gay and lesbian show to campus," Hernandez said. "Like Rent, that deal with gay and lesbian issues."

Hernandez also said that in today's society it is still acceptable to make derogatory comments about gay and lesbian people, even though it is taboo to use racial or religious slurs.

Another issue tackled was the difference between sexuality and sex, two terms Hernandez says people confuse.

"When we're talking about sexuality, we're not talking exclusively about sexual acts," Hernandez said.

Leah Reinert, a junior in architecture and co-director of the Saluki Rainbow Network, said she feels safe at SIUC and has received positive support from the student population. Reinhart encourages students and faculty to attend the events this month and to continue to support the gay community.

"This month helps spread awareness and get ourselves out there for people to see that we're just like everybody else," Reinert said.

Rob Perez, a graduate assistant in student development of multicultural programs and services, said some people may think the GLBT month was developed to ease tension between the administration and the gay community.

Perez said the idea for the month came long before Wendler's comments relating homosexuality to "sinful behavior," but that now it is more important than ever to discuss gay issues on campus.

For further information visit: www.siuc.edu/studdev/glbt.htm

 

 

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