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Boston College Students Hold Strike To Support Gay Rights

By Brandee J. Tecson

04.20.2005 6:14 PM EDT


More than 1,200 Boston College students, faculty and staff staged a one-day strike Friday to show their support for gay rights on campus, calling on the school to add the words "sexual orientation" to its nondiscrimination policy.

Participating professors canceled classes, while roaring crowds chanted and carried signs with slogans such as "End Discrimination." Senior Nick Salter, who helped organize the Rally for Equality protest, said the student-led movement has made strides in promoting discussion of the gay-rights issue but that more action will be taken if administrators don't expand the nondiscrimination policy.

"We think a new statement that would be more welcoming of gays and lesbians would better reflect the inclusive attitude we have here at BC," Salter said. "I think it took an event like this for many people on this campus to realize how welcoming BC is to gays and lesbians, and we hope the new policy can reflect those attitudes."

University spokesperson Jack Dunn said administrators are working on a compromise that addresses the students' concerns but doesn't conflict with the school's religious convictions. "The students feel passionate about this issue, and we respect their passion," he said. "We're just trying to find a way to be more welcoming without forfeiting our protections under state law and the values that sustain us as a Catholic university."

One student who felt the emotional impact of the movement was sophomore Chris Young, who spoke at the rally and called it "the most beautiful day I'd ever seen at BC." Young told the crowd about his personal struggle of coming out to his family and, years later, his fear of attending Boston College due to its stigma of not embracing alternative lifestyles.

"I stand before you today to tell you that because of the image Boston College portrays in the actions of its administration and its policies, I almost turned my back on it," he said. "I stand before you today because someone reached out to me and made me feel welcome, and I stand before you today because my purpose here has become one of fighting for that same compassion for all students.

"With things the way they are at Boston College right now, GLBT students have no choice to find all of their courage to come here. No choice but to stumble, no choice but to just survive," he continued. "It is time for every GLBT person here today at Boston College to feel that they can live their life and be happy. But none of [us can feel whole] until we are recognized in our full and beautiful humanity."

Student organizers have been pursuing the policy change since October. In March a campus referendum found 86 percent of BC student supported the move.

Accounting chair and assistant professor Theresa Hammond said most of Boston College's faculty supports the movement. More than 250 professors have pledged their support for the policy change, and several faculty members, including Hammond, spoke at Friday's rally.

"I thought it was the most amazing thing I've seen students put together in my 15 years at Boston College," said Hammond, who has been married to her partner since last summer. "It was wonderful to see so many students looking out for other students' interests even if it didn't impact them directly. It was a pretty momentous occasion for all of us."

This report is provided by MTV News


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