Tunnel gets a new face
RALEIGH—The Free Expression Tunnel
at North Carolina State University has recently
been given a fresh coat of white paint, with
the exception of an area devoted to Marvin
Malecha, dean of the College of Design, in a
mural motif.
The Andy Warhol-inspired creation took
seven hours to complete and entailed a
stencil effect to create all of the necessary
colors used.
The refresher to the Tunnel took place
after an Oct. 12 defacing of the GLBT Center's
"I am..." statements with derogatory terms to
describe gays, said the school's Technician.
The Tunnel was in the public light in 2008
when messages of threat aimed at then
President-elect Barak Obama were found
there.
The main concern is the issue of freedom
of speech. A staff news editorial stated,
"While no one is suggesting the University
shut down the Free Expression Tunnel, anyone
who paints it must remember it is a privilege.
Foranyone who wants to paint the tunnel, do
so with thought." .
The university tries to provide a discrimi
nation-free climate with healthy communica
tions. But the reality of that may not be certain
for everyone.
Jessica Moore, Ph.D., an assistant profes
sor in the Department of Communication,
has called for more tolerance on campus in
order to become a stronger Wolfpack. She
said, "We must demand an environment
where everyone is personally and intel
lectually protected to participate in course
dialogue." She wants LGBT faculty and staff
to be afforded the same rights and benefits
as those of the straight ones. At this time, she
feels that the school's Equal Opportunity and
Non-Discrimination Policy and its efforts "fall
considerably short." She does not see stu
dents free from intolerance either. An ROTC
student was outed by his classmates and he
was discharged and lost his scholarship.
— LM.
National
Gay adoption now legal in Fla.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Attorney
General Bill McCollum announced Oct. 22
that he would not appeal the landmark ruling
by the Third District Court of Appeal striking
down the state's anti-gay adoption ban as
unconstitutional. Gov. Charlie Crist and the
Florida Department of Children and Families
had already announced thatthey would not
appeal the decision. The ruling is binding on
courts across the state.
In a statement, Kate Kendell, executive
director of the National Center for Lesbian
Rights, said, "It is truly heartening that
Florida's elected leaders have stepped up
to the plate and finally agreed to put this
offensive law to rest once and for all. We are
thrilled that the Florida Department of Children
. and Families will never again have to waste
its time rooting out'homosexual' and bisexual
. people who apply to become adoptive parents
— instead, it can now focus on making sure
that children who desperately need homes
can find the very best loving, devoted parents
to adopt them. This is a great day for the state
of Florida and for LGBT families everywhere."
— D.S.
Effort mobilizes 1000s of students
NEW YORK, N.Y.—Thousands of students
from more than 1,000 middle and high schools
across the country participated in GLSEN's
Ally Week Oct 18-22 to identify, encourage
and support allies in addressing anti-LGBT
bullying in schools.
A student-led and student-created event
Ally Week is a way to build upon the unifying
work of Gay-Straight Alliance student clubs by
encouraging people to be allies against anti-
LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment
in schools.
Students participate in a number of ways
but usually encourage their peers to take the
Ally Week pledge, which students and adults
sign either through pledge cards in school or
online atallyweek.org.The pledge reads:
I believe all students, regardless of sexual
orientation or gender identity/expression
deserve to feel safe and supported.
That means I pledge to:
Not use anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender) language or slurs.
Intervene, if I safely can, in situations
where students are being harassed.
Support efforts to end bullying and
harassment.
— D.S.
Lambda seeks to defend DP law
MADISON, Wise. — In court papers filed
earlier this month. Lambda Legal asked to
. intervene on behalf of Fair Wisconsin and
five same-sex couples in a lawsuit brought
by an anti-gay group attempting to strip away
critical domestic partnership protections for
same-sex couples and their families.
This is the second time Wisconsin Family
Action has asked a court to overturn the
domestic partner law Gov. Jim Doyle signed
last year. Domestic partnerships grant limited,
but important legal protections to same-sex
couples, including hospital visitation and fam
ily medical leave to care for a sick or injured
partner.
Wisconsin Family Action says the do
mestic partnership law violates the anti-gay
constitutional amendment passed in 2006 that
bars marriage equality and recognition of any
legal status that is "substantially similar" to
marriage.
— D.S.
Global
LGBT youth expert touring China
CHINA — At press time. Dr. Caitlin Ryan,
a leading researcher on acceptance of LGBT
youth by their families, is presenting her
research and new family support model in
China. Hertour began Oct. 24 and continues
through Nov. 5. She is speaking at various
conferences, universities and community
agencies on the importance of family accep
tance for the well-being and health of LGBT
youth and their families.
Dr. Ryan's itinerary includes presenta
tions at Renmin University in Guangzhou and
Beijing; a conference in Beijing for parents
of LGBT children; meetings with Beijing's
Anti-Domestic Violence Network and the
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
(UNAIDS); and a presentation at Hong Kong
University, "The (Critical Role of Families in
Reducing Risk & Promoting Well-being for
LGBT Youth & Young Adults."
Throughout her trip. Dr. Ryan, who is
traveling with Shannon Minter, Legal Director
of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, arid
Luis Perelman, sexuality educator and founder
of the Asociacion Internacional de Familias
por la Diversidad Sexual, has been posting her
travel experiences on bilerico.com.
— D.S.
^CHARLOTTE'S BEST
PLACE FOR
VINTAGE FURNITURE,
JEWELRY, CLOTHING &
OTHER COOL STUFF"
4450 SOUTH BOULEVARD
CHARLOTTE, NC 28209
704.529.6369
^myiBroome
PLASF
YOUR BUSINESS
WITH US
call or email us today
704.531.9988
adsales@goqnotes.com
print and online
advertising solutions with
quotes and goqnotes.com
Meeting Date; Tuesday, November l6, 2010
Program: United Way CEO Jane McIntyre
Crowne Plaza, 201 S. McDowell St.
Time: Cash Bar Social/Heavy Hor d’oeuvres @5:30 pm
Program starts @6:45 P™
Cost; $15 members, $20 non-members
To Reserve: Call 704-565-5075 by 12 pm
Friday, November 12, 2010
or email businessguild@yahoo.com
to request tickets for this event
w
CHARLOTTE BUSINESS GUILD
Oct. 30-Nov. 12.2010 qnotes 13