Another side of the NC State LGBT debate
I’ve had the privilege of exchanging a few Facebook “emails” with NC State student Benton Sawrey over the past few days. We’ve had a good, short conversation on the issue of the proposed LGBT student center at NC State University.
Benton is one of the 14 members of the NC State Student Senate who voted against the Senate measure supporting the creation of the Center.
Benton gave me permission to post a letter he sent me, showing a drastically different side of the debate from what I see as very hate-filled, prejudiced statements made by some NC State students.
Here’s his letter (I’ve added the links, for those of you un-familiar with the issue):
Matt,
Thank you for sending me the link, I thought your article was very well written and well thought out, I hope you continue to follow the debate at NC State since its always interesting to see how people outside NC State perceive certain situations.
Whereas, I was one of the 14 Senators who voted against the bill, I didn’t vote against it solely on the basis that it was “LGBT Center” but moreso because I feel there are a lot better things we can put $200,000 toward. Off the top of my head, I can think of 5 different academic centers that are needed at NC State that I feel would better serve the student population rather than an LGBT center.
I realized that I would take a lot of heat for my vote in the Senate, but I also realize that the majority of NC State probably feels the same way I do, for one reason or another. I do agree with you that some of the comments people made on the facebook wall were ridiculous and out of line. I don’t believe gays should be put to death, nor discriminated against in any way but I still think that the idea of a “center” is somewhat ridiculous.
I really love how selective the administration is when they use these Princeton rankings as battle cry’s for reform. Shockingly, our supposed nationally recognized engineering school was nowhere to be found. The only thing we were honored as was “Best Value”. That sounds like something I get on sale at the grocery store, not a college. $200,000 needs to go toward the colleges mission as an institution, academic success. I stand by my vote.
Again, thank you for contacting me with the article and the link.
Benton
Needless to say, I don’t agree with how Benton voted and I wish that he would have seen the value and necessity in having the center. Either way, he took a stand on the bill, voted on it and he’s not afraid to explain to his constituents (and even those, like me, who aren’t his constituents) why he voted the way he voted. This guy is truly a good representative for the students at NC State.
Benton’s letter shows another side of the debate at NC State: the side of money. While I do believe that there are students who are hiding behind the “money issue” in order to hide their true feelings against having the LGBT Center, I am aware that there are students who may truly feel that the money could be best used else where.
So thanks go out to Benton for being so up-front about talking on his vote and his stances as a student senator and for being willing to not hide from it.
NC State LGBT Center. The most up-to-date news right here.
Technorati Tags: NC State University, LGBT Center, LGBT, college, anti-gay, Facebook, Raleigh, North Carolina
Matt, 22, is an LGBT journalist, activist and youth advocate currently living and working in Charlotte, N.C., where he serves as the Editor of Q-Notes, the Carolinas' LGBT news source. A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., Matt attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is still continuing to pursue his bachelors degree. He is the Owner & Editor of InterstateQ.com and has been active in LGBT advocacy work since the age of 14.
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