Howard U. Called Slow to Address Gay Concerns

By Ayesha Rascoe
Black College Wire

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

When a Howard University student was attacked by members of the Showtime Marching Band in 2002 for being a homosexual, various members of the Howard community called on the university to address the safety concerns and improve relations among segments of the student body.

The administration began sensitivity training for the campus police department and other campus workers, according to Chris Bolden-Newsome, a member of the Bisexual Lesbian And Gay Organization of Students at Howard.

BLAGOSAH was one of the organizations that spearheaded protests at the university after the incident. Bolden-Newsome, who was vice president of BLAGOSAH at the time of the attack, also said that the university set up a liaison person through campus police who specifically deals with discrimination and crimes against gays and lesbians.

But more than two years after the incident, some students, like Bolden-Newsome, question whether enough has been done.

"The sensitivity training should have been campus-wide," Bolden-Newsome said. A current advisory board member for BLAGOSAH, Bolden-Newsome said he felt that if the assault had occurred at another university, such as predominantly white Georgetown or American, more lasting changes would have been made. However, he said he felt that Howard's actions were indicative of black America in general. "Howard is not really moving any slower than the rest of the black community," Bolden-Newsome said.

Duane Howard, president of BLAGOSAH, agreed with Bolden-Newsome that sensitivity training should be implemented throughout the university. "I would like to see during orientation that harassment based on sexual orientation be discussed," he said.

Howard and Bolden-Newsome both said that since the incident, while there has not been a great deal of overt discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered students, a group known as GLBTS, the Howard community still does not really embrace all sexual orientations. "I think folks are more tolerant than accepting," Bolden-Newsome said.

"Students act as though these people do not exist," Howard said. Instead of overlooking gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered students, he would like a specific location on campus where such students can go for help and support.

To Ursula Johnson, a BLAGOSAH member who participated in the organization's protests after the assault, safety is not a very serious problem at Howard.

"I do not feel the campus is really unsafe," Johnson said. However, Johnson said that if others feel that it is, it is up to them to bring their concerns to the administration.

Other students agree. "From my perspective of homosexuals and people of alternative lifestyles, I have not seen any harassment," said Bryan Graves, a junior pre-pharmacy major. According to Graves, if any dangers do exist, they are not conspicuous.

"I have not seen anyone being mistreated," said Dallas Banner, a sophomore biology major. "It seems that people are very accepting of gay people. I do not think people care," he said.

Howard said he thinks the protests after the assault effectively sent the message to the administrators that no abuse can be overlooked.

"The big problem was Howard tried to keep it quiet," Howard said. "I do not think that would happen again. I think Howard would be much more proactive."

Ayesha Rascoe, a student at Howard University, writes for The Hilltop.

Posted Jan. 24, 2005