Providence College's
gay/straight alliance is vibrant despite the school's 'religious
backbone'
By
Nicole Doucette
Story As young,
eager college students receiving our higher education in "the land
of the free," we are blessed with the opportunity to express ourselves
in almost any way we desire. Whether it be through the classes we
choose to take or the organizations we choose to take part in, the
doors are open for us as we develop into the responsible adults
we hope to become.
While our government
assures us these rights and privileges, what happens if our lifestyle
or beliefs disagree with the values of a certain religion? If you
are a student at a public college your freedom of expression is
rarely questioned, but it is something that some students at Catholic
institutions face daily.
Establishing
a gay/straight alliance at Providence College was certainly a struggle
for those who fought for its establishment and in October 2001 succeeded.
Known as "SHEPARD,"
the alliance does not go by a straightforward title because the
Catholic religion does not condone such a lifestyle. Honoring the
late Matthew Shepard,
who was brutally murdered because of his sexual orientation, the
title is also an acronym for "Stopping Homophobia Ending Prejudice
and Restoring Dignity."
"The
fact that we cannot even call it a gay-straight alliance underlines
the fact that it was difficult to establish the club at this institution,"
says Lara Thompson, president of SHEPARD.
"The Catholic religion does not agree with the gay lifestyle;
therefore we are not allowed in any way to promote it. We are referred
to as the homophobia educational club."
Thompson, a
senior at Providence College, has faced numerous challenges as the
leader of SHEPARD and liaison between the group and the university.
"I have to
choose my words carefully and know who my allies and my enemies
are," she explains. "Additionally, there have been times when my
affiliation with the club has had negative repercussions for totally
unrelated SHEPARD events."
Thompson says
she feels as if she is constantly under surveillance by those who
are making sure the organization is not participating in activities
that would jeopardize the school's reputation. Thompson adds that
the organization's "freedom of voice is silenced in a private institution
and even further skewed because of the strong religious backbone."
According to
Thompson, the PC administration immediately assumed SHEPARD would
merely be a group formed so individuals could meet and date. The
administration also expressed its belief that homophobia was nonexistent
on the Providence College campus. Overall, there seemed to be no
need for a gay-straight alliance.
Thompson says
the members of the organization put a great deal of effort into
doing whatever they can under the college's restraints. Consisting
of 100 members of different sexual orientations, the alliance holds
meetings every Monday evening to discuss ways to educate those who
find their actions immoral. Attendance averages about 20 people
for each meeting, Thompson says.
The largest
event organized by SHEPARD is a nationally recognized activity titled
"A Day of Silence."
Held in April, students take this day to recognize the silence that
many Gay/lesbian students feel they are forced into on a daily basis.
"A Day
of Silence" is scheduled to be held on April 13, 2005.
Along with
"The Day of Silence," SHEPARD also has held poetry readings with
other groups on campus, and organized forums that address issues
relating to discrimination and homophobia. In addition, the club
holds workshops in residence halls to raise awareness on the effects
of discrimination.
So what lies
ahead for the members of SHEPARD? Thompson says she looks at it
with a "glass is half full" perspective.
"We are
restricted in a lot of ways but are also allowed to do a lot as
long as it does not go against the college's mission
statement. There are faculty members that have identified themselves
as allies and I am very grateful for their support."
According
to Thompson, SHEPARD has received more funding this year than ever
before, much of which has come from alumni donations. Thompson notes
that the increase in support will produce "a promising outcome for
the future of the club."
Thompson adds
that she is "glad to see that Providence College made a step
in the right direction to at least acknowledge these issues as well
as identify homophobia as a harmful entity to the lgbtqq
population at large."
Nicole
Doucette is a junior at the University of Rhode Island, where
she is majoring in journalism with a concentration in broadcast
news. She also is working on a minor in English. Nicole hopes to
land a summer internship at a New York television station. She is
also the president of Alpha Chi Omega sorority.
