Local News: NOH8 at Texas A&M

Halting Hate
By Camden Breeding

From the Texas A&M University Battalion

Recognized as a student organization since 1985, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Aggies are part of the Fightin' Texas Aggie family too. As an organization, we attended the Nov. 19 Midnight Yell proudly displaying rainbow flags and ‘Hate is Not an Aggie Value' buttons as we joined in the chorus, "BTHO Nebraska." Unfortunately, that chorus was interrupted by the voice of hate as members of GLBT Aggies were harassed for expressing who they are.

"Put the rainbow flags away faggots," one Midnight Yell participant shouted across hundreds of people down an exit ramp towards members of GLBT Aggies. Shortly thereafter he continued the harassment by yelling "faggots" multiple times at the same group.

This is not an isolated incident, nor is it even uncommon at Texas A&M. Earlier this semester, in the College of Engineering, I was branded "fudgepacker," while "fag" bounced across classrooms in the Zachry Building like a game of pong.

Karla Gonzalez, president of GLBT Aggies, experienced similar harassment in the College of Construction Science her freshman year, where she says the first words spoken to her in the college were "fag" and "dyke."

The reality is, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students feel unsafe and unwelcome at Texas A&M. Some might contend that by wearing GLBT-related T-shirts and carrying rainbow flags one brings the harassment upon themselves. I would argue that I see people on campus every day expressing important parts of their identity by wearing shirts that convey their religious beliefs or affiliations, cultural identities, organizations on campus and political ideas. I cannot agree to expect harassment on the campus that I love because I want to express an important part of who I am. I expect more from the Aggie family, and I know your fellow GLBT Aggies deserve more from the Aggie family.

Your fellow Aggies deserve more than the constant threat of verbal and physical harassment. Your fellow Aggies deserve more than to be targeted by bullies on a daily basis.

Your fellow Aggies deserve more than to feel unsafe and unwelcome walking across campus. Your fellow Aggies deserve more than to think that suicide is the only option because they are afraid to come out in a hostile environment.

Your fellow Aggies deserve more than indifference.

The time is NOW to speak up and stand up for the dignity of your Aggie brothers and sisters. Speak out against hate speech on campus, visit the GLBT Resource Center in
Cain Hall C-118, become an Aggie Ally by registering for a free workshop at http://allies.tamu.edu.

Speak up, Aggies. Never let them say you weren't at Texas A&M, never let them say you weren't there for your family, never let them say hate is an Aggie Value, and remember the Aggie Honor Code: An Aggie does not lie about who they are, cheat someone out of a positive experience, or steal someone else's dignity.

Published on Tuesday, November 30, 2010