By Matt
Blalock
Published:
Tuesday,
September 20, 2005
A
great white wall filled with scrawling curse words and insults dominated the
fountain last Wednesday. It was an expression of hate for the hope tomorrow
will present a more compassionate world.
UNCG's PRIDE! organization -
the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning (GLBTQ) and Allied
Student Association - presented students with "The Wall of Hate" on
Wednesday last week for the national Hate Crimes Awareness Day.
PRIDE!, is a student organization whose purpose is to offer a safe place for
students on the UNCG campus, as well as anyone in the surrounding communities,
to come and express themselves, interact with others, meet new people and
facilitate awareness in an open and inviting environment.
"There is a separation between the gay and straight communities,"
said club President Chris Wood. "PRIDE! Is here to bridge the gap."
A "Wall of Hate" is a place where students can write down words or
phrases that evoke a feeling of hatred. The idea was adopted after its success
at another university.
"Our goal is to raise awareness that hate does exist," said Matt
Hill, PRIDE!'s Business
Manager and legislative chair of the Student Government Association. The wall
of hate was later torn down, symbolizing the elimination of hate that separates
the gay community from the straight.
More than a hundred comments were left on the wall before its destruction
-comments like "twink," "fag,"
"cunt," and "ignorance." There
were no limitations of expression, however, PRIDE!'s focus was on hate crimes against GLBTQ.
Playing loud music with a spotlight on love, hate, and acceptance, PRIDE! was getting some of the
attention they wanted.
"There are some students here who are still in the closet," said
Hill. "Just seeing us [openly gay individuals] out here makes them feel
better."
They may have had the attention of the gay community,
however, students from the straight community kept on walking.
"Many students gave us looks of disgust or uncomfortableness,"
said Hill. "Whether the students walking by actively sought to write on
the wall or not, PRIDE! was still able to get out the
message of acceptance and equality."
"There is some fear of associating oneself with a gay organization,"
said Wood. "I would like for any person of any sexuality, not just
straight, to break out of their comfort zone and earn that it is perfectly okay
to associate themselves with the GLBTQ."
The event's primary goal was to raise awareness about hate, but beyond that,
Hill hopes for more.
"That PRIDE! was able to
chip away one more part of the prejudice or bias... [in]
those students who did not participate in the event and kept walking."
Several students seemed to agree the event was effective.
For example, UNCG student Sarah Carden took notice
what PRIDE! was doing, though she did not sign the
wall.
"Its good to tell people and put things in plain
view, maybe if they see it they will understand more."
This article available
online at http://www.carolinianonline.com/media/paper301/news/2005/09/20/CampusNews/Pride.Tears.Down.Wall.Of.Hate-990124.shtml