Editorial: LGBT progress

Five years ago this week, the University painted over slogans that the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community had put on the East Campus bridge to celebrate Coming Out Week. Although the incident itself was a misunderstanding on the part of the University, which was attempting to prevent hate speech directed against the LGBT community, it became an important focal point for thinking about and discussing the relationship between Duke and its LGBT students, faculty and staff.

Since that time, much progress has been made in the fight for LGBT acceptance and both the University and the University community have taken steps to make campus a safer and more welcoming place for all sexual orientations.

Two major steps have been the SAFE program and the Duke Allies program, which provide support to members of the LGBT community from those who are not themselves LGBT but want to show their tolerance to and solidarity with the goals of the LGBT community.

Additionally, the University has taken symbolic steps toward making the campus climate more accepting with the opening of the Chapel and the Freeman Center for Jewish Life to same-sex unions, even though such a union has yet to be performed. That the Chapel, the central symbol of Duke, is welcoming to LGBTs and their commitment ceremonies is a large step forward for the LGBT community.

There has also been a growing presence of alternate lifestyles on campus over the past several years as the University has bolstered its support for the Center for LGBT Life.

Problems still remain, since some LGBT students do not feel comfortable, especially with showing their affection for one another on campus. However, many of these fears may be based more on LGBT students' perceptions and less upon the generally tolerant attitudes of students.

The general population at Duke is very accepting of LGBTs, and while there are certainly some who dislike homosexuals, the majority of the Duke communityis accepting of many lifestyle.

People here are both mature enough and diplomatic enough to accept LGBT individuals. While the LGBT community cannot force people to agree with their lifestyle, they can expect others to embrace them. LGBT students, faculty and staff can expect to be safe, and there is no reason to feel that Duke is not safe for people of all lifestyles.