Mims

The life of Mims
2003-03-26 23:59:01 (UTC)

Homophobia

Well, of course it exists.
Perhaps I was naieve if I didn't expect to find it in
college.
But it's here.
The gay, lesbian and bisexual group in college (otherwise
known as platform 6) have a noticeboard in college where
they post information about homosexuality - it's an attempt
to try and dispel some of the myths surrounding sexuality.
On several occasions this notice board has been defaced,
and last weekend it was thrown into the outdoor swimming
pool.
Needless to say, I was absoulutely incensed. I tried to
imagine very hard what it must be like for the members of
platform 6..........awful, hurt and damaged just doesn't
describe it.
In some ways though its been a situation that has been
incredibly difficult to handle.
You see, the people who did it were Arabic - Muslims.
The claim was that the notice board was an affront to thier
religion and what they have been brought up to believe.
Disrespectful of thier culture.
I can understand why if you have been brought up all you
life being told that 'Gay people are evil' and that they
will 'try and convert you' that it can be really difficult
to overcome such ingrained beliefs. But where do you draw
the line between peoples culture, and predjudice?
If the notice board had been giving information on anything
else, Judaisum for example, would it be any defense to
say 'I was brought up to hate Jews'? I don't think so.
So what do we do about it.....
What infuriates me most is that there have been plenty of
opportunities for the people who undertook the vandalism to
air thier voice in a more constructive way. Time and time
again the platform 6 members have stated that 'if there are
any questions about us, please come and ask.' Surely it
would have been more constructive for them to do this, and
realise that homosexuals are normal people, instead of
demonising and dehumanising them, destrying thier attempts
at seeking understanding, and subjecting them to
intolerence and hatred?
But I suppose in a way, it isn't all negative. Now that
these issues have finally come to a head, it shows that
there are predjudices present ion the college...prevelently
homophobia. Now we know this, its time for these issues to
be addressed, and actually properly dispel the myths around
homosexuality, rather than having it underlying the school,
but never really addressed.
Its such a tough issue at the moment.....but one I can't
help but get really incensed about.

Love M




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