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Editorial  |
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Letter to the Editor:
Sexual orientation has no place in campus politics
ASG Director of State and Federal Affairs
To whom it may concern:
I am writing this letter as a straight, married MHCC student who recently experienced hate speech and slander toward myself about my sexuality, as well as witnessing the same done to a lesbian friend of mine.
My friend and I were campaigning for the offices of ASG president and vice president during the past two weeks on campus. Twice during this process, she mentioned she had a domestic partner. Some students at MHCC took it upon themselves to walk through the library informing other MHCC students to not vote for us because we were “lesbians.” Another time during campaigning, my vice president (candidate) was handing out flyers in the Main Mall and asked a student, “Have you voted?” They said, “Yes” and that they voted for the other ticket because “we don’t want no gays in office.” And just Monday, after campaigning was over, a white car with Washington plates with two female passengers drove by as my friend walked through the parking lot and the two women yelled, “We didn’t vote for you because you were gay!”
I was appalled, to say the least, and then I got angry as I watched my friend and her amazing wife with fear in their eyes begin to cry. When did our campus become a campus of hatred and bigotry? Why is being a lesbian associated with a negative context? And how does being a lesbian equal not being a qualified leader?
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that my friend being a lesbian would be such an issue on our campus. I was so proud to be running beside her and now I stand behind her and all students who relate to the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community. I chose her because she relates to such a large number of students, be it ethnic, religious or sexual orientation.
Other students who may identify with the LGBT community or even those students still questioning their sexuality have now seen firsthand what happens on our campus when a leader steps forward to make a difference on our campus: hatred, bigotry and discrimination.
I am saddened that students feel sexual orientation takes precedence over leadership qualifications. I want our students to step back and see a person for who they are, beyond their sexual orientation.