Newspapers / Lambda (Carolina Gay and … / Nov. 1, 1983, edition 1 / Page 2
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I ; j f (SCHOLARSHIP, continued from page 1) stringent the requirement and therefore greater when it is a man who defies the societal requirement. Women will benefit by his action more than men will benefit from a woman taking this action." Dean Bondurant again refused the offer and explained that, "The Medical Advisory Committee has decided as a matter of policy not to seek the information neces sary to determine the qualified applicant pool." In a third letter he identified this information as the "expression of sexual preference which would be required as a condition of applying for or becoming eligible for the scholarship." An Aug. 30, 1983 letter from Ragland to President Friday reviewed the history of the scholarship proposal and Ragland’s motivations: "I agree that inquiries cannot be made into an individual's sexual preference, and I did not suggest or ask for any such inquiries. I went to some pains to avoid this by saying that no written or verbal statement is required and specified a student who has already openly and publicly made manifest a same gender affinity/preference.... 1 think it is extremely unfortunate that the right to privacy could be so construed as to abro gate a person’s right to be open which seems to have happened in this case. The right of privacy certainly doesn’t mean that one must be secret but rather it gives one a choice.... I doubt that the University is doing anything to deny any one the right to be open, but is it doing anything to counter the societal pressures which do deny that right?" Ragland added, "My offer is not to be construed as a homosexual scholarship or as an attempt to aid students with a same gender preference to get an education. They can do that as well as anybody else." Ragland explained in detail why he was concerned with this problem of oppression: "I think the word educate comes from the Latin e-ducere, to lead out, to lead out of ignorance, and let me add, prej udice.... I want to call attention to a particular difficulty people with a same gender affinity have which adverse ly affects al1 segments of our society.... I want to help provide role models for like persons and to help lead the general public out of ignorance and prejudice. I want to make it easier for others to come out, and I want to help relieve all men and women of the anxiety and fear that are associated with this subject and these people. I want to help families with such a member to be whole, to be able to share their loves and sorrows which now separate them. This is a largely public health problem.... I believe that it is especi ally important that physicians be involved in this for they are teachers and examples for others. But physicians, like clergy and teachers, seem to be among the last to take this step." At press time, no response has been made to Ragland’s last letter. CGA asked President Friday’s secretary about the situation and was referred to Dean of Student Affairs, Donald Boulton. He was not available for comment, but his secretary explained, "We are waiting for a response from Dr. Ragland." Dr. Ragland says he welcomes any other suggestions for the use of this money that would fill his objectives. Ragland may be contacted at: 2783 Oak Street Jacksonville, FL 32203 -Mark World Congress of Gay and Lesbian Jewish Organizations "That night...there was a lovely Shabbat service. The degenderized liturgy...added, for many, to the joy and warmth of the service. When we faced Jerusalem there was a special sense of comraderie, as we sang and prayed with our Israeli sisters and brothers under the glory of a beautiful sunset on the shore of the Mediterranean." So reads an account of the Fourth International Conference of Gay and Lesbian Jews, which took place in Tel Aviv in 1979. At a similar conference two years later in Philadelphia, the World Congress of Gay and Lesbian Jewish Organ izations was born. Its bylaws include eight statements of "goals and objec tives," and while the kind of spiritual togetherness described above is not offi cially listed therein, it is obviously an important aspect of the group. The Congress is composed of 18 meiaber groups, including one each in Canada, England, France and Israel. The goals of the Congress are to provide leadership for and solidarity among these groups, most of which are congregations, and to provide information to the public. Objectives include planning the International Conference, an annual event since 1976, and meeting a unique dual responsibility "to encourage outreach to both the Jewish and Gay/Lesbian Communities." An objective with particular relevance to the Triangle area is to provide assis tance in the formation of new groups. A personal letter to the members of the CGA by the Congress’ Coordinating Secretary Lorry Sorgmyn offers help in setting up a member organization and/or worship services for Jews in Chapel Hill. Lorry Sorgmyn’s address is 44 Gartland Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 01130. Or write to: World Congress P.O. Box 1516 Evanston, IL 60204 -Marc
Lambda (Carolina Gay and Lesbian Association, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
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Nov. 1, 1983, edition 1
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