Kevin Casteel Professor Johnson The Documented Argument Gay Bashing on College Campuses Gay bashing on college campuses is a major issue that many colleges are now starting to pay close attention to. As more and more college students come out that they are gay or lesbian, more and more discrimination from heterosexual students who are against homosexuality takes place. Most colleges and universities in the United States have come to welcome gay, lesbian, and transgender students with open arms, and make them feel warm and comfortable. According to a 2001 study by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, “36 percent of LGBT undergraduates have personally experienced harassment due to their sexual orientation or gender identity within the last 12 months” (“Campus”). Being a gay college student at Virginia Wesleyan, I believe that colleges and universities are making an effort to promote the idea of homosexuality across campus, but it is not, by far, a top priority. Colleges and universities should take a greater stance on this issue in order for gay bashing to effectively decrease over time. Admittedly, there are many students on college campuses who are against homosexuality, and gay rights. These students may come from a very different family background, one that believes gays are evil. Some students may even come from families that are part of a different religion, and who see gays as sinners. They believe that someone who is gay is possessed by demons, and deserve to be beaten, and called harsh names. According to John Zmirak, editor of Choosing the Right College,”… the unexamined assumption of Gay Studies — that homosexual activity is morally equivalent to heterosexual — conflicts with the orthodox teachings of the three major world religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and the beliefs of most Americans. Secular elites may disagree with these beliefs; but they do not have a scientific basis for disproving them.” (Jost) However, there is significant proof that the Bible nowhere mentions homosexuality, as the concept exists today. The Bible passages that are used against homosexuality are incorrectly translated and used out of context in order to hurt people. The original language of the Bible was never against same sex romantic love, or never even saw it is as a sin. The stories about Ruth and Naomi, in the books of Ruth, and of David and Jonathan, in the books of I Samuel 18-20 and II Samuel 1 , showed that the Bible gave support to same sex relationships. The use of the Bible to condemn lesbians and gays violates many scientific principles of translation and interpretation, and is clearly unsound, unjustifiable, irresponsible, and ignorant. The Bible demonstrates that God loves, cares, and accepts all rejected, alienated, and misunderstood people; therefore, what would God have against homosexuals? Gays are no different from anyone else, just merely misunderstood by some. They have the same features as any one else, as well as, work, own houses, eat, and go shopping like any other person does. The fact that gays are attracted to the same gender, and not to the opposite sex, does not make them any different from anyone else; it is who they are. The reason why a particular person came to be homosexual does not make a difference. It has been said that people who are gay are born gay, liking either men or women; therefore, homosexual students can not help themselves; it is who they are. There are many other factors, associated with being gay. According to Petre William, of the Jamaican Observer, "There are numerous theories about the origins of a person's sexual orientation; most scientists today agree that sexual orientation is most likely the result of a complex interaction of environmental, cognitive and biological factors. Human beings cannot choose to be either gay or straight and sexual orientation emerges, for most people.” There are plenty of homosexual males and females who attend college, just as many heterosexual men and women. One should not blame a person for who they are. Heterosexuals are not stereotyped by gays; therefore, gays should not be stereotyped by heterosexuals. In fact, many college students watch TV shows that portray homosexual lifestyles. TV shows like “Will and Grace,” Queer as Folk,” “the L Word,” and “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” portray homosexuality in a false pretext. According to Dan Thies, “… gay-themed reality TV shows which he states are an "indication of America's broadening acceptance of gay culture into the mainstream." He warns us that, "The thematic content of these programs is not intended to be taken seriously," that they are "fundamentally unrealistic.” These TV shows make everything feel perfect. It makes it seem like being gay is OK with everyone, and that everyone approves of it, as well as loves it. However, that is not always the case. Some gay students have to struggle with their lifestyle, each and every day, to be able to fit in with the rest of their college community, who may not be quite as accepting and open to homosexuality. Some gay students are called such terms as “faggot,” and “queer,” as well as shunned away from certain people, and events on their particular campus. Gay students should not have to be fearful that they are going to be harmed for who they are. They should have more support and sympathy for what they are. They are not significantly different from anyone. They still have the same features, the same mouth, nose, hair, and the only difference is they like different people. Take the case of Matthew Shepard, for example. Matthew was a gay college student at the University of Wyoming. After Matthew came out about his sexuality, two men robbed, beaten him, tied him to a fence, and left him alone to die. According the encyclopedia Wikpedia,”The public reaction and media attention focused on Shepard's sexuality. In doing so, they brought issues of homophobia and gay-bashing to the forefront of public debate.” (“Matthew Shepard”) It brought up the question of whether or not gay students were, indeed, safe on college campuses or whether safety was a major concern on campuses across the United States. Long after the case of Matthew Shepard, colleges and universities scurried to try to enforce a gay-friendly environment. Kenneth Jost states, “At least 100 universities have established resource centers to help gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) students cope with the distinctive issues they face in college life. More than 150 colleges now offer courses in lesbian and gay studies — with some schools even offering academic majors or minors in the specialty.” Colleges have begun to offer support clubs, the GSA or the GLBT, where gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students from an alliance with straight students, and attempt to promote anti-discrimination against gays throughout the campus. It is a good way for gay students to come out and get support from fellow gay students and form an unbearable bond between other students. In an article written by Kenneth Jost, Chicora Martin the, co-director of the National Consortium of Directors of Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Resources in Higher Education ,suggests, “The presence of gay and lesbian clubs on college campuses has exploded during the past five years, from fewer than 100 to well over 1,000. Institutionally, at least 100 universities have centers to provide support services for LGBT students.” Having support services, clubs, classes, and dorm halls dedicated to gay students shows that a particular college or university cares, and it gives gay students a feeling of a welcoming environment, open to all. What colleges and universities are doing to protect gay and lesbian students is not enough. Having clubs, classes, and dorm halls dedicated to gay students is great; however, it is not helping the effort to decrease gay bashing once and for all. Gay students should not be secluded from the rest of the school population. They should be in classes and share dorm rooms with other students, on all campuses. In order to decrease gay bashing, one has to show the student body that it is OK to be gay. If gay students mingle with only gay students, the rest of the student population will not be able to see that gay students are normal students, just like any other student on campus. Gay and lesbian students are still subjected to scrutiny and bashing among particular students. Kenneth Jost claims,” Some gay students suffer harassment or threats because of their sexual orientation, and many, particularly athletes, stay “in the closet” for fear of unfavorable treatment.” Some particular students may believe that gay or lesbian students get treated too kindly by a certain college or university, and should get treated equally, or even below equal. Other students who bash gay and lesbian students may feel jealous that these students get treated more warmly with numerous support services and dorm halls dedicated to the homosexual population. Homosexual students should feel like it is OK to be gay, and not be worried about what other students think of them. Colleges and universities should have important discussions with the student body concerning homosexual students, gay bashing, and harsh punishments for gay bashing; to be sure each and every student is on the same page. Colleges and universities should create more of an open support system for gay and lesbian students, in order to create a network of safety and concern amongst these students. Furthermore, the bashing of gays on college campuses has decreased over the years, due to the increasing population of more and more open-minded students. Gay bashing may include the use of hateful, or derogatory words toward gays, or even occurrences to violent acts of hate. It is not right that a gay guy or lesbian students has to go around their college years, and fear the college or other students, due to their sexual liking. It is no one’s business of whether a particular student is gay or not gay. Why does it matter? Just because someone’s lifestyle is different, does not mean others have to make fun of someone. Calling people names based on their sexual lifestyle, does not do anything but put people down, and make them feel ashamed of themselves. Everyone should be happy and proud about whom they are, and not fearful or embarrassed about what someone thinks. Moreover, colleges have come a long way, in having the idea of a gay-friendly campus. In the article “Gays on Campus” by Kenneth Jost, gay author Eric Marcus suggests,” We’ve evolved from a period when students could be and are thrown out of college simply for being gay to a period where colleges offer courses on gay/lesbian issues. Gay students today will find accepting or even welcoming attitudes among students, faculty and administrators at many, perhaps even most, campuses. Rainbow flags hang from dorm windows, and same-sex couples walk arm in arm on campuses across the country, while student newspapers endorse gay marriage.” It is good to know that colleges and universities are doing mostly everything they can to accept gays for who they are, and promoting the idea of opening up to homosexuality across campus, letting people know to not be afraid of who they are, and letting others began to accept the idea of homosexuality. Colleges and universities have provided safe havens for gay college students, with many support services, and clubs dedicated to them. However, enough is not enough; more has to be done to combat this effort against gay bashing once and for all. Colleges and universities need to work on blending gay students with the rest of the college community, instead of secluding them in their own classes and their own dorm halls. Everyone, no matter who they are, has the same right to feel welcomed and safe, no matter where they go. Homosexual male and female students should believe in there selves, and be open to what they believe in. Gay bashing should come to an end, as it makes gay students feel uncomfortable and scared to be who they want to be. Colleges and universities have attempted to do all they can do to decrease gay bashing on college campuses; however, enough is not enough. Being subjective to name calling, and violence, does not allow a sufficient education, all it does is subject homosexual students to secluding themselves from the rest of the campus community. Overall, gay students should be able to believe in themselves, and have the same opportunities as anyone else in college.