PRESS RELEASE--BOSTON COLLEGE BANS GAY DANCE AND HIV/AIDS FUNDRAISER

[WindRavenX]

Hey DUers, my name is Genevieve and I go to Boston College. I am a member of the Gay Leadership Counsel (GLC).

They cancelled our dance. I NEED YOUR HELP to get BC to realize that just because they CAN legally discriminate, that does NOT mean that you will tollerate their bigotry against the queer communities at Catholic schools. I will post more later, but look in the papers tomorrow and listen to Air America, because this is going to be a HUGE battle:


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

BOSTON COLLEGE BANS GAY DANCE AND HIV/AIDS FUNDRAISER.

ADMINISTRATION CENSORS GLBT STUDENTS ONLY MONTHS AFTER ADOPTING A MORE
GAY FRIENDLY NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY.

Following months of planning on the part of the GLBT community, Boston
College has decided to cancel a planned "AIDS Benefit Gala, A
Celebration of Diversity." The Dean for Student Development, Robert
Sherwood, with the support of the Vice-President for Student Affairs,
Cheryl Presley, abruptly informed organizers of the decision. This
came as a shock to the GLBT community and other Faculty, Staff, and
Students of Boston College, as the University recently adopted a new
notice of non-discrimination committing itself to maintaining a
welcoming environment for students, regardless of sexual orientation.

This brings to the surface, once again, the concerns voiced by the
Boston College community to the administration during last years
"Strike and Rally for Equality" regarding the need for the inclusion
of sexual orientation in B.C.'s notice of nondiscrimination.

Perhaps even more distressing are the reasons cited by Dean Sherwood
for canceling the event. In meetings with leaders of the GLBT
community he and other administrators cited the impending announcement
of a billion dollar capital campaign drive during which the University
will seek the support of "older, more conservative alumni." Also among
the reasons given, were concerns about the safety and privacy of GLBT
students, and the upcoming merge with the Weston School of Theology,
which will require Vatican approval. Following the announcement by
the Vatican at the end of November, that it would be assuming a
tougher stance on homosexuality in the Clergy, one must wonder if
Boston College will abandon its mission as an institution of higher
learning every time the Vatican releases a new position paper. This
university has been a leader in conversations regarding Catholicism
through its landmark Church in the 21st Century program; if it wants
to continue to lead, it must do so by example, and make a substantive
change.

Speaking plainly, this dance was canceled because of its organizers'
sexual orientation. The Administration has selectively targeted the
GLBT community, in an act of blatant bigotry and discrimination, and
in doing so, has broken its promise to extend its welcome, "in
particular to those who may be vulnerable to discrimination."
Furthermore, Boston College has made abundantly clear that the charity
proceeds of this event are of no importance - that they regard
intolerance more highly than charity, and in doing so, bring shame to
their Jesuit and Catholic heritage. It should be made clear that this
event was not just for the GLBT community. Ticket sales were open to
the entire student body, and everyone was welcome at this event – so
long as they respected it as a safe zone. Any statement to the
contrary is factually inaccurate, and a deliberate misrepresentation
of the mission of this event.

Boston College has stated that it wishes to become, "The Best Catholic
University in the World", however they have chosen to set a policy
which bans, censors, and curtails the expression of its students,
simply because of their sexual orientation. How can academic inquiry
thrive in such a setting? Boston College will never achieve its full
potential while retaining the right to legally discriminate. It is
irreconcilable with the mission of higher education and with the
values of tolerance espoused by Christianity.

Hurt, and deeply appalled by the University's disregard for the human,
and Catholic values of tolerance, decency, and respect, the GLBT and
Allied communities have pledged to raise their voice once again. The
reluctance that has been repeatedly shown by the Administration is not
typical of the Boston College community. Over 84% of those students
who voted in last year's student elections supported equal rights for
the GLBT community, along with the over 1,500 students, faculty, and
staff that marched in solidarity. This has demonstrated that Boston
College is a loving and accepting community, which will not tolerate
an Administration, which openly discriminates against and ostracizes
members of its own community.

Media Contact (Primary):
Veronica Joseph
Email: [e-mail]
Cell: 954-558-1253

Media Contact (Secondary):
Sasha Westerman
Email: [e-mail]
Cell: 617-797-5304

[xchrom]

1. i e-mailed them.

fuck -- it's all so distasteful -- i compared them to bob jones.

any way there was more -- but it was ugly -- because i'm soo angry.

no cursing though.

[WindRavenX]

2. I sincerly appreciate your e-mail

Thank you so, so much.

:hug:

[Ian David]

3. I'd make them a deal...

Let their school and church discriminate however it pleases, and in return all we ask is that they stop trying to tell the rest of the world how to run their churches, schools and governments.

Anyway, good luck.

I've forwarded info on the situation along.

Please keep us posted and let us know what we can do to help.

[WindRavenX]

4. will do

As I said, keep ears/eyes open in the national news-- we're blitzing every media outlet we can on this.

we will keep fighting :hug:

[seemunkee]

5. Can you give me a link to the press release

I want to send it to someone but it will be dismissed if it came from DU.
Thanks

[WindRavenX]

6. I can e-mail it to you

It is not yet online. This is something that we're putting out for media coverage.

PM me if you need my e-mail addy :hi:

[MountainLaurel]

7. You made the Chronicle of Higher Ed

Leaders of a gay students' group at Boston College asserted on Tuesday that college officials had canceled an AIDS fund-raising dance, and they accused the administration of discriminating against students on the basis of their sexual orientation. Administrators of the Roman Catholic institution, however, say they declined to approve the event because it did not appear to be open to all students.

Veronica Joseph, a leader of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Leadership Council, said the group had planned to hold an event called "AIDS Benefit Gala, a Celebration of Diversity," on December 9, but that officials at Boston College canceled it two days before Thanksgiving.

Ms. Joseph, a junior who is a co-director of African American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American issues for the council, said the dance would have been open not only to gay students and their partners, but to all students, whatever their sexual orientation. The council's leaders had hoped to sell around 400 tickets at $10 apiece, Ms. Joseph said, and had planned to contribute $3 from each ticket to the Boston Living Center, a community center for people with AIDS.

Ms. Joseph suggested that because of the institution's forthcoming merger with the Weston School of Theology, which will require Vatican approval, along with the Vatican's recent announcement that it would assume a tougher stance on homosexuality, "Boston College is coming out and saying we can no longer support the gay lifestyle on campus."

the rest is at:

http://chronicle.com/daily/2005/12/2005120706n.htm