To the editor:
As members of the Hamilton-Wenham Committee for Tolerance, we admire the courage of student Tania Green who requested the Gordon College Student Association form a campus support club for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and questioning students.
GLBTQ students at Gordon are lucky to have a friend who has become an ally willing to support them. Homophobia has silenced many, increased the incidence of depression and addiction, and led to violence including suicide and homicide, for those who are gay or are perceived to be gay.
We hope that Tania will continue to offer support and friendship on the Gordon campus. We also hope students will create a club, even though it isn't established under the auspices of student government. This group of dedicated students can begin to educate themselves and create awareness of gay and lesbian issues that may decrease the incidence of harassment on campus. Their presence will help to make students, staff and other employees of the college (who happen to be gay) feel safer by affirming their dignity and their rights.
The administration has the power and responsibility to create a safe campus for all. Perhaps if the Gordon administrators feel unable to encourage the student association to accept this new club, they would be willing to participate and dialogue with members of the club.
Recently, Desmond Tutu wrote and delivered his response to accepting the Outspoken Award from the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights commission. He said "... I cannot be but as God has made me. And so I have spoken against the injustice of apartheid, racism, where people were penalized for something about which they could do nothing, their ethnicity. And so also, when women were penalized for their gender, I couldn't even if I had tried, keep quiet. And so I support the ordination of women as priests and bishops. I therefore could not keep quiet, it was impossible, when people were hounded for something they did not choose, their sexual orientation ... And I, for myself, imagine our Lord, who died for the world, not for the church, I imagine Jesus weeping."
We believe your adviser Paul Borgman's statement that "the mandate of the gospel is to love through listening," suggests he might agree with Desmond Tutu. Your example of offering love through listening will help the students who want or need support and may encourage others to reconsider their position.
JEAN JONES
JULIE PRESTON
JANE ROSS
JAN LEE
Hamilton-Wenham Committee for Tolerance
