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Holiday^ Celebrate^
GLBT'SA Holds Celebration Week
Above; The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chancellor James Moeser addresses students, faculty, and Chapel Hill
community members at the candel light vigil and speak-out in response to a recent hate crime that occuerd on Franklin Street.
by Robert Wells
Society accuses LGBTIQ persons of flaunting
their sexuality for doing things that straight people often
take for granted. Whether it is holding hands with a part
ner in public or simply stating ones sexual orientation,
non-straight people fight a constant battle to defend the
expression of one of the most basic parts of their identity.
This is why the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual,Transgendered
- Straight Alliances (GLBT-SAs) spring extravaganza.
Celebration Week, was necessary. The week of March
first to March ninth brought a myriad of queer-related
speakers and activities to the University of North Caro
lina at Chapel Hill’s campus, giving everyone a chance
to rejoice in their sexuality without fear of persecution.
The week began on a somber note with a can
dle-light vigil and speak-out in response to a recent hate
crime that took place the weekend before, in which a
student was attacked in front of a restaurant on Franklin
Street. Though hastily-organized, the speak-out and vig
il let students know that the LGBTIQ community and
its allies refuse to tolerate physical or verbal abuse. Dur
ing the speak-out, petitions were distributed to urge the
University and North Carolina legislators to include sex
ual orientation and gender identity and expression under
their respective hate crime laws. Members of the com
munity, including UNC-CH Chancellor James Moeser,
Vice-Chancellor Peggy Jablonski, Chapel Hill council
man Mark Kleinschmidt, and Ian Palmquist of Equality
North Carolina, addressed a crowd of about 500 stu
dents, faculty members, and concerned Triangle citizens.
After an open-mike session, the group was led by Student
Body President Matt Calabria and Student Body Presi
dent Elect Seth Dearmin, both wielding rainbow flags,
across the upper-quad to Franklin Street. Once in front
ofTop of The Hill Restaurant, where the attack occurred,
the group stood for one minute in silent reflection.
However, as implied in its title. Celebration