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Panel discusses Day of Silence's importance on campus

LGBT members gather to ask questions to four-member panel about their life experiences

By Dustin DeRosa
Rocket Contributor

Issue date: 4/20/07 Section: News
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Steve Orner talks to the panel and students about how he lives his life as a gay man in the current society during Tuesday's events prior to the Day of Silence. The four members of the panel all informed the audience about LGBT issues.
Media Credit: Steve Reed
Steve Orner talks to the panel and students about how he lives his life as a gay man in the current society during Tuesday's events prior to the Day of Silence. The four members of the panel all informed the audience about LGBT issues.
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Imagine you're a man who chooses to dress like a woman. Or a woman who dresses like a man. Imagine you're gay. Now, imagine being ridiculed every day by people who barely know you, because all they know is that you're different from them, and they don't like it.

The President's Commission for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues (LGBTI) is trying to end discrimination against people of alternative lifestyles, by explaining what it's like to be in their shoes.

"If universities aren't about exploring life and its many issues, then what is a university?" said SRU President Robert Smith, as he opened a panel discussion about gay, bisexual and transgender issues, held Tuesday evening in the Advanced Technology and Science Hall.

Associate Professor of Parks and Recreation Colleen Cooke said the discussion was long overdue.

"We are excited for this opportunity for students to talk about gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and trans-gender issues," Cooke said. "It is about time this happens at this school."

The four members of the panel all promoted a message of tolerance and acceptance by sharing their own personal experiences.

The mother of a gay man told students how she and her family felt when her son acknowledged that he was gay. She explained that students need to be understanding of alternative lifestyles.

Steve Orner followed her speech by describing how two organizations lend aid to LGBT individuals-Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, which consists of 650 chapters nationwide, including Pittsburgh, and the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, which is the leading national education organization aimed at creating safe schools for all students.
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