Students and administrators, including Ohio University President Roderick McDavis, echoed a message of pride and progress at Friday's Out Week Rally at West Portico.
Senior Elliot Long, the rally coordinator, pointed out three substantial gains for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students during his tenure at OU. Domestic partnership benefits, a full-time LGBT Programs Center and a visible queer community are all positive notes, he said.
We have a lot of new people this year who are really involved
Long said.
President McDavis was asked to speak at the rally because of the steps he has taken toward diversity at OU, Long said.
It is through that level of understanding that the day will come when folks will not vote against Issue One as they did last year he said. That is the day we can all look toward; that is the day that will change campuses like Ohio University.
Out Week 2005 was a first for senior Linsey Pecikonis.
Athens
Ohio
and Ohio University both are some of the best places to find yourself
said Pecikonis, describing her coming-out experience as positive. I think the people in the community have been really supportive.
Pecikonis mentioned McDavis and G. Christine Taylor, newly named assistant to the president for diversity, as key figures in moving Athens in the right direction. Junior Gretchen Cataline, LGBT commissioner for Student Senate, spoke to the group about another type of coming-out experience: coming out as an ally.
Let go of passivity and come out as allies
she told a cheering crowd. It doesn't matter if you have 10 people show up to a rally or 100; it's all about the action.
This is your university
this is your time
said Mickey Hart, coordinator of the LGBT Programs Center, at the rally. I'm encouraging you to leave this university better for LGBT students than you found it.
Out Week, sponsored by Open Doors, culminated in Gay Day at Strouds Run yesterday.
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