We're Watching, Notre Dame

This type of thing would not be tolerated at GW.

But apparently, the publications of Notre Dame University - a university with ties to the Catholic Church, led by a Pope who believes gay people are an "attack on creation" - are perfectly fine with cartoons that preach blatant homophobia.  Take a look at this comic, which appeared in The Observer earlier this month and has since gained national media attention, resulting in the resignation of one of the managing editors:

Panel 1: "What's the easiest way to turn a fruit into a vegetable?"

Panel 2: "No idea."

Panel 3: "A baseball bat."

Yes, it's saying what you think it's saying.

You know, here at GW, we're actually pretty lucky.  Sure, things aren't perfect - we don't have a housing system that is fair to our transgendered students, our ROTC kids get kicked out because of their sexuality, and I would be naive to think that everyone here supports gay rights.  But things could be a lot worse; things could be like at Notre Dame, where this sort of cartoon gets published, followed by a half-hearted and self-excusing apology.

But here at GW, we hold ourselves to a higher standard of fair treatment and civility.  And as Assistant News Director for WRGW News, I hold my staff to a higher standard of integrity.

Students of the George Washington University, we all have a responsibility to make sure our generation matures with a mindset more appropriate for the twenty-first century than what this shameful cartoon represents.  Tell Notre Dame that enough is enough: sign the petition urging the university to take the necessary steps to better welcome a minority group onto its campus.  From the text of the petition:

But the roots of homophobia that lie behind the comic strip reach far beyond just the pages of The Observer. The University of Notre Dame has consistently refused to add sexual orientation to its non-discrimination policy, and has consistently refused to recognize LGBT student groups on campus. These decisions fuel the fire of homophobia, and help create a culture at the University where not only hateful comics, but hateful language and actions, can be tolerated.

And the kicker:

Being Catholic does not have to be synonymous with being homophobic.

It certainly doesn't.  So sign the petition; tell NDU that the world is watching.

Meghan and Cindy McCain: Redefining Republican

Many are probably familiar with the NoH8 campaign created in opposition to California's Proposition 8, which was passed by CA voters in 2008 and overturned California's marriage equality law. Well, Cindy McCain - wife of Republican Senator and former Presidential candidate John McCain, and mother of Republican and gay marriage advocate Meghan McCain - has joined the cause.

From NoH8's website:

In the year since we've started the NOH8 Campaign, we've often been surprised at some of the different individuals who have approached us showing their support. Few, though, have surprised us more than Cindy McCain - the wife of Senator John McCain and mother to vocal marriage equality advocate Meghan McCain. The McCains are one of the most well-known Republican families in recent history, and for Mrs. McCain to have reached out to us to offer her support truly means a lot.

Aligning yourself with the platform of gay marriage as a Republican still tends to be very stigmatic, but Cindy McCain wanted to participate in the campaign to show people that party doesn't matter - marriage equality isn't a Republican issue any more than it is a Democratic issue. It's about human rights, and everybody being treated equally in the eyes of the law that runs and protects this country.

I think it's terrific that two well-known Republicans are coming out in support of a civil right that is being denied to a minority group. Of course, the GW College Republicans have a slightly different take on the matter: Meghan McCain was invited to GW to speak at National Equality Week, and the CR's are up in arms because, well, she's theirs. From The Hatchet:

"Our executive board was told that Meghan McCain's primary focus would be her opinion on what it means to be a Republican," Rob Noel, CR public relations director, said. "We later discovered through her Twitter and subsequent conversations with the SA and [the Graduate School of Political Management] that she would be giving the keynote address for Marriage Equality Week."

Apparently there was some misunderstanding as to why she was speaking at GW, and the CR's felt misled by Allied-in-Pride President Michael Komo. But here's what concerns me a whole lot more: it seems as though, according to the CR's, being a Republican and supporting marriage equality are two mutually-exclusive, irreconcilable things. But the rest of us know better: I know a lot of Republicans who openly and proudly support marriage equality. A lot of them go to GW. Two of them are my parents.

And as for what Ms. McCain thinks of all this:

Yes, I am the keynote speaker at George Washington University's "Marriage Equality Week" next month. Can't wait, very honored to be asked!

And we're very honored to have you.

Law Professor's Editorial is Misguided

Monday's Hatchet featured an editorial by GW law professor John Banzhaf, who commented on a story that the Hatchet posted about students trying to change GW's non discrimination policy.

Both the editorial and the original story featured errors about the transgender community as a whole, as well as GW's non-discrimination policy.

The Objective

Trans Education and Advocacy(TEA), a committee of Allied in Pride, is spearheading an initiative to amend GW's non-discrimination policy, not the Student Code of Conduct. TEA is seeking to amend the GW's Non-Discrimination Policy to add "gender identity or expression" to the list of protected classes. Statistically transgender students face more harassment then their peers, and this simple change would protect transgender students discrimination and harassment. For example, this year one transgender student faced harassment, but was not able to take substantial action on the issue since GW's non-discrimination policy did not include gender identity or expression.

Basic Grammar
Transgender, not transgendered is the correct usage. As the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Media Guide points out:

Only verbs can be transformed into participles by adding "-ed" to the end of the word, and transgender is an adjective, not a verb.

Terminology
In the editorial, Professor Banzhaf asked:

Since discrimination based upon "sexual identity" is already prohibited, why is there a need to add new language to protect against discrimination based upon "gender or identity expression"?

There is a difference between sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. GLAADs media guide can clear up any confusion:

Gender Identity

One's internal, personal sense of being a man or a woman (or a boy or girl.) For transgender people, their birth-assigned sex and their own internal sense of gender identity do not match.

Gender Expression

External manifestation of one's gender identity, usually expressed through "masculine," "feminine" or gender variant behavior, clothing, haircut, voice or body characteristics. Typically, transgender people seek to make their gender expression match their gender identity, rather than their birth-assigned sex.

Sexual Orientation

Describes an individual's enduring physical, romantic, emotional and/or spiritual attraction to another person. Gender identity and sexual orientation are not the same. Transgender people may be heterosexual, lesbian, gay, or bisexual. For example, a man who becomes a woman and is attracted to other women would be identified as a lesbian.

Restrooms
Professor Banzhaf also expresses concern over the fact that perverts and degenerates might take advantage of the policy.

In reality, hundreds of universities have implemented this policy and this has never been a problem. Ever.

Over 260 universities have added gender identity or expression to their non-discrimination policies, including American University and Georgetown. TEA is currently lobbying the GW Faculty Senate to support this proposal, so that the amendment can be reviewed by President Knapp and the Board of Trustees.

Full Disclosure: I am the former president of Allied in Pride, GW's largest LGBT organization.

Freedom to Serve Rally This Friday

This Friday, the Servicemebers Legal Defense Network, an organization dedicated to ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," is hosting a "Freedom to Serve Rally" and lobby day at the Capitol to press Congress to end the policy and to send the message that the American people will not be satisfied until gay men and women are allowed to serve openly in the military.

To RSVP for the rally this Friday, go to the facebook event or register through SLDN's website.

This fight has recently become very personal for many of us at GW. Todd Belok, my fraternity brother and friend, was recently removed from the Navy ROTC program here, and it has enlivened many on campus to take action on this vital issue.

President Obama has pledged to repeal it, and leaders in Congress have promised to make it a priority. Attend the rally and hold them accountable for their promises.

Go to the rally this Friday. It's probably the last day you're in town before Spring Break and let's face it, you should probably do a good deed before hitting up Daytona.