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The Daily Utah Chronicle

The University of Utah's Independent Student Voice

The Daily Utah Chronicle

The University of Utah's Independent Student Voice

The Daily Utah Chronicle

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Want your voice to be heard? Submit a letter to the editor, send us an op-ed pitch or check out our open positions for the chance to be published by the Daily Utah Chronicle.
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U campus not immune to hatred, homophobia

By Ryan Shattuck

If I may be excused for a small self-indulgence, I’d like to share the following life-affirming poem:

Go home, faggots,back to your prissylittle pink closetswhere you belong.

We’re tired of yourprancing lispycandy asses flittingaround the campus!

Not to spoil the ending of the film “American Beauty” for anyone who hasn’t seen it, but I would be willing to bet all 60-something albums of Barbra Streisand (I’ll also throw in all 67 of her singles) that the author of this hateful poem is, in fact, gay himself.

Now, this obviously isn’t a poem by anyone who might be mistaken for Katharine Coles, so much as it’s graffiti I found scribbled in a bathroom stall on campus by a very sad and homophobic individual. What does the finding of such offensive graffiti reveal — aside from the fact that “candy asses” has finally found its way into prose?

Yes, graffiti is clearly an issue on campus, but what’s more perilous is that homophobia is now so prevalent and intense that it inspires those who wouldn’t normally know the difference between Emily Dickinson and Emily Dick-In-Some (hint: at least one of these isn’t a porn star) to inject anti-gay epithets into poetry. What would otherwise be an innocuous bathroom wall now bursts with hate speech.

Homophobia is real, and it exists in strong doses throughout Utah. While some in our fine beehive state continue to hate gay people under the premise that traditional conservative ideals must be preserved — ideals such as “encouraging family values,” “building a Christian-based society” and “beating the crap out of that queer in gym class” — many of these ideals are unfortunately nothing more than thinly veiled feelings of hate. Although I’ve always been one to defend the freedom of religion, I do, however, draw a line at any religion that commands its members to hate its gay and lesbian brothers and sisters. Despite coming from a good place, such totalitarian extremism reminds one that many people throughout history have been mislead by fanatical beliefs until they eventually justified hatred in misguided attempts at taking a moral high ground. People such as Adolf Hitler. Benito Mussolini. Joseph Stalin. Donald Trump.

Which isn’t to say that six seasons of “The Apprentice” are as tragic as the systematic homicide of six million Jews. But it’s a close second.

There will always be those who believe that although homophobia exists, the eradication of such hatred doesn’t belong in societal dialogue. Perhaps these are the same apathetic people who also believe that abortions should be legal after a 10-month waiting period. As it turns out, fear of gay men and women is a big deal in society. Because of the detrimental effect of homophobia, about 20 percent of all hate crimes committed in the United States are directed at gay men and women. Because of homophobia, homosexual youth are two to three times more likely to attempt suicide than their straight peers. Because of homophobia, homosexual men and women receive the death penalty in Iran, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen and, for all we know, some parts of Utah County. Because of homophobia, “Brokeback Mountain 2: Jack’s Revenge” will never play in Larry Miller’s theater.

Not only is homophobia dangerous for gay men and women, but the existence of such hatred is dangerous for society as a whole. According to a University of Cincinnati study by psychologist Janet Baker, homophobia, anti-Semitism and racism are “likely companions.” If this is what homophobia keeps as companions, then perhaps we might benefit by not inviting homophobia over to our home for a dinner party in the first place. Although I haven’t met anti-Semitism or racism personally, I hear that inviting them over for a dinner party is just slightly more appealing than inviting Ron Jeremy. Only because he always brings over his home videos.

The U celebrated Pride 2007 this week, an event that simultaneously allowed the GLBTQ community to commemorate the strides the gay community has made in Utah over the past several decades, while also memorializing those whom we have lost from suicide and fatal diseases. Progress has undoubtedly been made towards eliminating homophobia and hatred, but fake politicians and fake celebrities such as Rick Santorum, David Vitter, Isaiah Washington and Ann Coulter demonstrate that even fake people in positions of fake power spout hateful ideas about gay men and women. The vitriolic message these people cruelly share with society should remind everyone that homophobia and hatred are alive and well.

Pride Week should be an opportunity for not only gay and lesbian people to remember those who came before them, but perhaps become a time for everyone to remember what a corrosive mark homophobia — and hatred in general — leaves on society.

Even if it means the downfall of a certain burgeoning poet.

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