BGLSA Protests Court Testimony

The Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Students Association (BGLSA) held a 40-person rally yesterday in the Yard to protest allegedly anti-gay comments made earlier this week by Kenan Professor of Government Harvey C. Mansfield Jr.'53.

The students, many wearing gay pride pins, gathered in a cluster on the middle of the Widener Library steps around 1:15 p.m. Together, they held a seven-foot tall pink triangle in front of them.

Mansfield said this week that homosexuality is "shameful" and "kinky" and "undermines civilization" in testimony for a Denver trial and in an interview with The Crimson.

While waiting for the actual rally to begin, several students called out to passersby, saying "We're happy and we're gay." Others launched into a rendition of "America the Beautiful."

At one point, one protester yelled to a member of the conservative magazine Peninsula, "I know you want to be up here." Three Peninsula members were in the audience for the protest.

Although several protesters called for an administration reaction to Mansfield's comments, Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles yesterday refused to comment on the government professor's remarks.

He said it is "very possible" that the University could sponsor a free speech forum on the issue.

"Anybody concerned with issues of speech should indeed talk to [Professor of Government Michael J. Sandel], who ran such a successful forum last semester and who aimed, I think, to arrange more such events," Knowles said.

Approximately 15 bystanders in attendance sawBGLSA co-chair Bob E. Giannino '95 read a letterthat has been distributed to various campuspublications concerning Mansfield's comments. Init, he called Mansfield's statements,irresponsiable, insulting and false," drawingaudience applause.

"We urge all members of the Harvard-Radcliffecommunity to recognize the hurtfulness and thepatronizing contempt inherent in ProfessorManfield's remarks," the letter said.

At the conclusion of the rally on the steps,about 35 protesters marched with the seven-footpink triangle to the Union.

Inside the Union dining hall, they continuedtheir protest in front of a larger audience.

Rachel E. Cohen '94, former BGLSA co-chair,stood on a chair in the dining hall, announced thepresence of the group and explained why they werethere.

Some of the protesters stayed in the Union foran eat-in, while others left.

In an interview after the rally, Giannino saidthe purpose of the protest was to show unity inthe face of Mansfield's comments.

"We wanted to have a visible presence with gay,lesbian, bisexual, and straight people showingopposition to Mansfield's words," he said. "Ithink this was accomplished."

Giannino said he still hoped for anadministration response. "I know [Mansfield] has aright to free speech, but the University shouldpublicly deplore his statements," Giannino said.

Cohen, who introduced the idea for the rally atBGLSA's Wednesday meeting, also said she wasdisappointed that the University had decided tostay quiet so far, In an interview, she challengedMansfield to substantiate his claim.

The members of Peninsula in the audience forthe Widener protest said they attended to see whatthe rally would be like.

Christopher B. Brown '94, senior council memberof Peninsula, said he was not impressed.

"Compared to he rally against Peninsula a fewyears ago, this rally was laughably small," Brownsaid. "We could easily get more conservativestogether if we did this sport of thing."

Audience members for the protest seemedsympathetic to the BGLSA's stance.

"I think [the protesters'] point is veryreasonable and should be made, but I'm surprisedthere weren't more people watching," Julie C. Suk'97 said.

Another bystander, Eliot House tutor David D.Kane, said he takes no sides on such issues.

"This is what a university is all about," hesaid. "One group of people on the steps of Widenersaying one thing and then another group getting upand saying another."

First-year students in the Union seemedsupportive of the BGLSA protest, and the groupgathered scattered applause for its announcementthere.

"I thought it was good," said J. Lewis Ford'97. "They have a lot of issues they have toconfront and they showed a lot of cohesion andunity standing up.

Approximately 15 bystanders in attendance sawBGLSA co-chair Bob E. Giannino '95 read a letterthat has been distributed to various campuspublications concerning Mansfield's comments. Init, he called Mansfield's statements,irresponsiable, insulting and false," drawingaudience applause.

"We urge all members of the Harvard-Radcliffecommunity to recognize the hurtfulness and thepatronizing contempt inherent in ProfessorManfield's remarks," the letter said.

At the conclusion of the rally on the steps,about 35 protesters marched with the seven-footpink triangle to the Union.

Inside the Union dining hall, they continuedtheir protest in front of a larger audience.

Rachel E. Cohen '94, former BGLSA co-chair,stood on a chair in the dining hall, announced thepresence of the group and explained why they werethere.

Some of the protesters stayed in the Union foran eat-in, while others left.

In an interview after the rally, Giannino saidthe purpose of the protest was to show unity inthe face of Mansfield's comments.

"We wanted to have a visible presence with gay,lesbian, bisexual, and straight people showingopposition to Mansfield's words," he said. "Ithink this was accomplished."

Giannino said he still hoped for anadministration response. "I know [Mansfield] has aright to free speech, but the University shouldpublicly deplore his statements," Giannino said.

Cohen, who introduced the idea for the rally atBGLSA's Wednesday meeting, also said she wasdisappointed that the University had decided tostay quiet so far, In an interview, she challengedMansfield to substantiate his claim.

The members of Peninsula in the audience forthe Widener protest said they attended to see whatthe rally would be like.

Christopher B. Brown '94, senior council memberof Peninsula, said he was not impressed.

"Compared to he rally against Peninsula a fewyears ago, this rally was laughably small," Brownsaid. "We could easily get more conservativestogether if we did this sport of thing."

Audience members for the protest seemedsympathetic to the BGLSA's stance.

"I think [the protesters'] point is veryreasonable and should be made, but I'm surprisedthere weren't more people watching," Julie C. Suk'97 said.

Another bystander, Eliot House tutor David D.Kane, said he takes no sides on such issues.

"This is what a university is all about," hesaid. "One group of people on the steps of Widenersaying one thing and then another group getting upand saying another."

First-year students in the Union seemedsupportive of the BGLSA protest, and the groupgathered scattered applause for its announcementthere.

"I thought it was good," said J. Lewis Ford'97. "They have a lot of issues they have toconfront and they showed a lot of cohesion andunity standing up.