Gays at Howard U. Feeling More Comfortable

Two Septembers ago, the Bisexuals, Lesbians and Gays Organization of Students organization at Howard University led a rally on the upper quadrangle, angered by an attack on Darryl Payton, a sophomore theater arts major, by members of the university’s Showtime marching band trumpet section.

Photo credit: Melanie Nesbitt Howard student Darryl Payton, whose attack prompted a campus rally, speaks to a crowd in September 2002.

"I was shocked that an attack like the one against Darryl happened at the Mecca," one student said then, using a nickname for the university. "If it could happen to Darryl, it can happen to me."

Today, student leaders at Howard say they are confident that their strides to create an environment free of discrimination for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students on campus has been a success. They give administrators high marks for their efforts to confront discrimination.

Howard has appointed a liaison through the Campus Police Department who is in constant contact with student leaders to ensure that incidents of discrimination are minimal.

Referring to the Bisexual Lesbian And Gay Organization Of Students At Howard, student government president Daniel Blakemore said, "We have been cooperating on a consistent basis with BLAGOSAH on many issues that the administration may not want to deal with because of some conservative views from trustees."

Blakemore said his main objective when negotiating with administrators was to make them understand that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students were like everyone else. He acknowledged, however, that more could be done.

"Sensitivity training for students and faculty would be a step in the right direction to better inform everyone, as well as to get rid of the prejudices that plague us about homosexuals," he said.

Belinda Watkins, dean of student life and activities, shares Blakemore's view. "The university is committed to following all federal rules and regulations pertaining to discrimination. We believe that no one should be discriminated against on the basis of race, sexual orientation, or anything else," she said.

Justin George, treasurer of BLAGOSAH, agreed that the university could do more to address the concerns of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students, known collectively as GLBTS. But he said he believes that "Howard is progressing in the right direction. The university has been supportive for the most part, but there is always more they can do. The question is whether they have the resources to do it," he said.

George added that the faculty "has always been supportive and is pretty consistent with its support."

As for the student body, George said that overall, treatment from his peers is good but could be better.

"The student body is made up of so many cultures and some are more accepted than others." He also said there had been instances where he felt white people were more accepted than gay people. When he considered whether to attend Howard, George said the treatment of GLBTS was not a part of his thinking. "I just assumed that people at college would be on a higher intellectual level and more open to different people. I came with that belief naturally," he said.

For heterosexual students, gaining a better understanding of their gay and lesbian peers is "just a matter of getting out of their own comfort zone and looking at someone else's point of view and lifestyle," George said. The GLBTS are simply "trying to be comfortable with who we are and want everyone to see that were not trying to force our lifestyle on anyone else."

Sophomore print journalism major Tiffany Bolden agrees that gay students should be allowed to be themselves without being discriminated against, but said she believes the university is "walking a thin line" when attempting to grant them equality. She said, "I have mixed emotions about this. I do believe that Howard shouldn't discriminate against homosexuals, but they also shouldn't cater to them so much as to upset heterosexual students."

Rhonda Buckner, executive director of the Metro Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays' D.C. Chapter, is critical of those who hold conservative views. "They live under the false belief that if you condone it you spread it," Buckner said. "They must come into the 21st century and recognize that students who come to Howard are all different."

Buckner said that Howard could remain neutral and continue to fight discrimination against GLBTS by "supporting groups like BLAGOSAH and showing a swift and effective response when there is an incident of discrimination to show concern for ensuring safety."

Kevin Harris, a student at Howard University, writes for The Hilltop.

Posted Feb. 16, 2004