UB Pride Alliance

First Meeting

2007-09-07T14:54:00.000-07:00

When: Tue. Sept. 11 at 5:00 pm

Where: O'Brian 102 (North Campus)

What: The first meeting of the year for the UB Pride Alliance. Actually, this will be the first meeting ever. There will be an introduction to the group and we will discuss the goals of the group. There will also be a chance for everyone to have input on meeting times.

If you have any comments or ideas please make a comment on this post. This blog will serve as an area for brainstorming and organization. If you are interested in becoming an author for the blog to be able to add an article when you have something to say, please, contact me at prideallies@gmail.com

White House Issues Veto Threat Against Gay Hate Bill

2007-05-03T09:51:00.000-07:00

(Washington) Just hours before the House votes on the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act the White House issued a statement saying that if the bill passes the House and Senate and goes to the President, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto it.

Read the rest of the article Here.

Everyone Has a Right to Protection

2007-05-02T19:03:00.000-07:00

Do Gay People Deserve Equal Protection?

2007-05-02T17:46:00.000-07:00

I'm really excited about this new group, and I am glad I can share some things from time to time.

How much do you know about the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act? It's a bill currently being considered by Congress that would expand federal penalties for acts of violence against homosexuals.

The simple truth is that gay people need to be protected from violence that would not happen if we were not gay. Special laws wouldn't be necessary if there were no violence specifically targeting gay people, I suppose, but sadly, there is a lot of that kind of violence. In fact, FBI statistics show that one in six hate crimes is motivated by the victim's sexual orientation.

There are a lot of people out there – especially religious conservatives – who want to stop this bill. Since it appears the Congress will pass the bill, they have turned their attention to the White House and to convincing the President to veto the bill. In one letter to Mr. Bush, the Concerned Women for America states that "there is no evidence to suggest that homosexuals or cross-dressers do not receive equal protection under the law." BULL!

Some people claim that we want asking for "special rights," but that isn't so! What we want, and deserve, are the same rights and protections enjoyed by Straight Americans. I've never heard of violent attacks aimed at straight people because they were straight, but if such a thing began happening, there would need to be recognition of this and adequate steps taken to try to deter it.

In the case of violent crimes against gay people, it is true that attacking others is against the law regardless of their sexual orientation. However, it is also true that many times, attacks against gays go uninvestigated, unprosecuted, and uncared about.

The Congress is voting now, and the pressure is on President Bush to veto the bill if it passes. Please consider writing your Senator and Congressman and asking for a positive vote on the bill, and let the White House know that you want to see it become law.

We can make a difference if we work together.
_____________________
For interesting information about this legislation, click here, here, and here.
For more information about Matthew Shepard, for whom the bill is named, click here.

Looking for Members, Officers and Authors

2007-05-02T12:01:00.000-07:00

Hey,

I recently handed out GSA info cards on campus, so if you are looking at the blog I hope that means you are interested. UBGSA is still in its infant stage and won't really start until next fall, but I need to start getting a member base and a couple officers.

This group will be a part of the law school and the undergrad college, and I am also working on getting more people and groups from the community interested in working with us next year on different projects. The constitution is still being written, but I can post it if you want me too, when it is finished.

I am hoping that the group will have a bigger straight membership than it does GLBT next year, because there are way more straight people on campus than gay and the more the merrier and more powerful we will be.

I also am looking for authors to add to the blog so it can have more breadth of info and perspectives, and so it has a continuous flow of new posts and ideas.

If you are interested in being an author please write me an email telling me a bit of what you want out of the group, any goals you think it should have and a verification that you are a UB student, for example, send the email to me from your UB email account and you can give me your personal one if it is different.

OFFICERS: If you are interested in taking on a bigger role and spending more time with this group next year and you want to be an officer, please write me and give me the same info and verification as those interested in being blog authors.

People interested in being members, just email me from any account, you do not have to be a UB student. Or you can just sign up to be notified of new blog posts, but if I can get together a mailing list, setting up meetings next year will be easier.

Thanks,

Phil

Spread the Word

2007-04-23T18:35:00.000-07:00

Hey,

If you know anyone from UB send them a link to this blog. If you are a student at UB or from the Buffalo/Niagara community and are interested in becoming involved with the UB Pride Alliance next year send me an email at prideallies@gmail.com.

I will look forward to hearing from you, even if it is just one line.

Thanks,

Phil

2007-04-21T08:44:00.000-07:00

FAGS (original)

2007-04-20T18:44:00.000-07:00

FAGS

2007-04-20T18:12:00.000-07:00

This picture is from a stretch of sidewalk on the campus at UB. The picture is photo-shopped slightly, but only for contrast and brightness. The human eye can take in a lot more than a camera lens, but even with photo shop I could not get it to burn on the screen like it did in my eyes. On the same stretch of sidewalk, the words "FAGS" and "FAG" are scrawled three times. I notified the university system through the campus police, on Wed. April 11, at 3:31 pm EDT. They said they would take care of it. This is what is looks like today.

I have talked to many people at UB who say they don't think that there is a problem with discrimination toward GLBT people. One girl even argued that using the word "GAY" as a negative word (synonymous with stupid, idiotic, unfair, lame or even ass-hole) is not discriminatory and not offensive (needless to say, she is not gay). Well, I don't offer this picture as proof that discrimination is still here. I just want people to think about it. Maybe we should all think about how easy it is to point out a group of people and make them the brunt of a joke or a favorite insult word.

The word "fag" is an extremely derogatory word, but it is also a very common word to hear in high schools, on college campuses, and while hanging-out with friends (or not-so-friends as it may be).

Here is another picture from the sidewalk. And in the next post I will show the originals (before photo shop). Homophobia is alive and well, and it is up to you and me to put an end to it.

The Beginning

2007-04-19T18:38:00.000-07:00

Hey,

My name is Phil and I am a student at University at Buffalo. I am working on starting a Gay Straight Alliance at UB next year and I am starting a blog to get word out.

One of the main goals of the group will be to "bridge the gap" between the GLBT and the straight communities. That is the catch phrase anyway. UBGSA will concern itself with issues that concern the students and student society. Not limited to LGBT issues, but focusing mainly on human rights and human equality on all fronts.

I believe UBGSA is needed, because I believe that if TBGL people are going to live healthy lives and if straight people are going to lead healthy lives and live more colorful lives, the two groups need to work together. Let us assume that 5-10% people are BLTG, if that is true... where are they???? There are some that are active and fighting for their right to exist with the same pride, acceptance and freedom that others enjoy. Where are the others? Hiding, trying to kill the gay part of themselves, unsure of who they can trust, where to start, how to be themselves. There is a problem and it needs to be addressed.

Even completely out-of-the-closet people struggle with knowing how "gay" they can or should be. Should I try to be masculine, feminine, flaming, or low-key? Can I be open with others about how I feel about them? Can I hit on people, without being beat up? Can I be open at work, with my family, in class, or anywhere else?

There are many problems that even the most secure gay people have to address on day-to-day basis, and I know straight people can have plenty of question and concerns on the topic too.

That is all for now, but stay tuned and feel free to email me at ubgsalliance@gmail.com. I will be adding more posts in the future that you may be interested in seeing and reading.

Sincerely,

UBGSA

1st Member Phil