By Rachel Bryson-Brockmann

We all know to put the brakes on blatant racism and sexism, but what about anti-LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning) actions and words? According to GLSEN’s (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network) 2007 National School Climate Survey, nine out of ten LGBTQ students report feeling harassed at school. So, two college gay/straight alliances, Clark University’s OPEN and Framingham State College’s 10% Alliance, are working to raise awareness about LGBTQ issues.

Clark University’s OPEN (“Our People Exclude No one”), meets weekly to plan speakers, workshops, and movie screenings to raise awareness at Clark about LGBTQ issues. On campus, they’re focusing on the fight for transgender rights, converting single-sex bathrooms into gender neutral ones. Off campus, they’re contributing to the national fight for equality. “In the fall we phone banked and canvassed for the ‘No on 1’ campaign to protect same sex marriage in Maine,” says Ally Murray, vice president of OPEN. “We also traveled down to Washington D.C. with the Clark Democrats for the National Equality March.”

But it’s not all work and no play. “One of our biggest events is Coming Out Stories, an empowering night where LGBTQ students come out to the audience and share their personal stories,” says Murray. “Many students have been harassed for their sexual orientation over the years, so to declare your orientation and have the crowd react with thunderous applause is amazing.” And this club sure knows how to party: every year their most popular event is Drag Ball, a cross-dressing dance party complete with professional drag queens.

Framingham State College’s 10% Alliance, dubbed for the ten percent of the FSC student body that identifies as LGBTQ, is known best for their moving presence on the Day of Silence. Held each April at schools across the country since 1996, students take a day-long vow of silence to symbolically represent the silencing of LGBTQ students. “We give out hundreds of t-shirts to the FSC students who take the vow of silence,” says Crystal Hederson, Vice President of the 10% Alliance, “and we always run out by the end of the day.” For one day, the campus is flooded with students in matching t-shirts, keeping quiet to support their LGBTQ peers.

The 10% Alliance’s focus at the moment is a project called Safe Space. “It’s a support group for LGBTQ students, which involves training the staff and faculty, as well as straight allies,” says Hederson. Started by GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, a national organization, Safe Space programs increase the visible presence of student and adult allies to bring about an environment where LGBTQ students feel comfortable and accepted.

Don’t we all deserve to feel just that?

10% Alliance website: tenpercent.weebly.com

FSC’s 10% Alliance & Allies – Gay Straight Alliance FB:
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=26065297220&ref=ts)

OPEN’s FB group: Clark University OPEN (www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=154817135210&ref=ts)