Fairfield University Reaches Out to the LGBTQ Community
The country was stricken to hear about that the suicide of Tyler Clementi, who was bullied for his sexual orientation. Two students at Rutgers University, where Clementi was a student, reportedly taped him having a homosexual relationship that led to his jumping off of the George Washington Bridge. The case cast light on other cyber bullying incidents, catching the attention of educational institutions all around.
In light of these tragic events, Fairfield University held a series of events in October to educate students on the history, culture, and future of LGBTQ community. Now, Fairfield continues to fight intolerance by organizing a vigil that invites all members of the University’s community to show support for those who have or are being bullied.
On Wednesday November 3, at 5:30 p.m., Candlelight Vigil for Acceptance will take place at Chapel Plaza to honor the victims of homophobia and cyber bullying.
The event is being coordinated by Campus Ministry, the Office of Residence Life, and the Office of Student Diversity. Kevin Donohue, the Campus Minister, encourages students, “to attend to acknowledge and mourn the tragedy of homophobic bullying in [our] society and on college campuses, and to state clearly that Fairfield University is a community of tolerance and mutual respect.”
Students seem to agree with Donohue. “I think that it’s an issue that is misunderstood by a lot of people and anything you can do to shed light on it takes courage. If you see an injustice, if you don’t stand up for it, who will?” Cara Kallem’13 commented.
Dennis Hodgson, a Fairfield Professor of Sociology and Anthropology, says, “Hopefully, everyone who attends the Vigil will be sensitized to the homophobic slurs and slights that can occur in everyday life and which we often let slide by without negative comment. Speaking up in such everyday situations is the best way to let those who don’t share our community’s commitment to inclusiveness know that they are in the minority.”
This effort to ease the woes of the LGBTQ community does not stop here. Fairfield University offers other resources on campus for help. Trevor Project is a crisis intervention hotline (866-488-7386) that operates to provide help to LGBTQ youth.
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