As the Technicianrecently reported, Lt. Dan Choi will be hosted by the Union Activities Board & GLBT Center for an on campus lecture and discussion of the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy.
Who: Lt Dan Choi is a West Point graduate, decorated officer, Arabic Linguist, and was discharged under the DADT policy
When: Tuesday, October 12 · 7:30pm - 9:00pm
Where: Stewart Theater
Admission: Free
"I speak about the consequences of telling the truth under Don't Ask Don't Tell and of living a lie through my personal journey," Choi said. "I let people know our belief system is against our integrity."
For more information, see the facebook event.
This is something of a big deal for NCSU in my eyes.
Although I currrently live in a very LGBT welcoming community in Chapel Hill (complete with a gay mayor, gay county commissioner, & other openly gay officials) that has its own university that is very LGBT welcoming (I just got back from a candle light vigil a few hours ago in remembence of the those recent suicide victims - the only one I heard about anywhere in the state), a university that has safe zone training, LGBT groups, and all that. My husband is a graduate student at that university (UNC).
Whereas I am a graduate student at NCSU. A school that was ranked in the top 20 anti-LGBT univesities in 2007. Being in the triangle area helps, and being in the capital city of the state (Raleigh) means there is more diversity than you find in most NC towns, but there is still a long ways to go. Recently however, there has been a lot of progress.
Our BGLA (what it was called when I was in undergrad) that always seemed sparsley attended has evolved into the the GLBT CommUNITY alliance that emphasizes welcoming of all groups. And the University sprung for a our first ever GLBT center (office space in the main student center on campus). Andin a university that had little in the way of LGBT events during undergrad, we now have public events celebrating not just national comming out day, but the whole week:
# Monday 10/11
* Painting the tunnel
o When: 9 PM - 12:01 AM
o Where: Meeting at the free expression tunnel!
+ Make sure to dress appropriately....we get messy!
# Tuesday 10/12
* GLBT-CA Meeting in Stewart Theatre for:
o What: Don't Ask Don't Tell Presentation by Lt. Dan Choi
o When: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 7:30 PM
o Where: Stewart Theatre
+ Seating is limited so arrive early! Free for students!!!
# Wednesday 10/13
* T-shirts on the brickyard
o When: 11:00 AM
o Where: The brickyard
# Thursday 10/14
* Coffee Talks
o When: 5 PM - 9 PM
o Where:Talley Student Center Brown Room
# Friday 10/15
* Wear your t-shirt day!
# Friday - Sunday 10/15 - 10/17
* Crepe Myrtle Tennis Classic
And, the NCSU GLBT Community Alliance had representatives at our state pride event a few weeks ago (its the first time I've ever seen them there).
Everyone's flashing the Wolfpack hand sign at Pride:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/...
And Raleigh now has a pretty active LGBT center too (you'll see an Elaine Marshall sign on the right, more on that below):
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/...
There was a time where I felt torn, between living near UNC, a school and town that is very accepting, and spending my academic career in at a school that was less so. And it dawned on me tonight, at the candle light vigil, that the divide is closing, and that this school that I'm attending for grad school, in some of the very same class rooms that I set in during undergrad, is a very different, and better school than it used to be.
And on this day, the day of the MarshallBOMB, I couldn't let this diary go with sharing this link:
http://goelainego.com/
Elaine is a part of that change. From senators who barely mention LGBT people in passing, to someone who represents full equality. From her campaign website:
Elaine believes it is not the Federal government’s job to discriminate, including when it comes to sexual orientation. She believes we should honor the commitment of those serving in the military regardless of sexual orientation, and that we should follow the lead of our military leaders and repeal "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell." Elaine supports the repeal of DOMA and the enactment of ENDA and UAFA. She supports eliminating all forms of discrimination under the law, including immigration law.
So please, support the Marshall Bomb! Donate to the money bomb if you can, but definitely share the link and spread the word!