Conference Focuses on Gay Rights

Gay activists and politicians gathered at the Second Annual Harvard Queer Politics Conference Saturday to discuss the advancement of gay rights in federal and educational institutions.

The culminating event of Queer Harvard month, the conference took place at the Institute of Politics' ARCO Forum.

Calling the conference at attempt to "foster stable relationships, both gay and straight," former Governor of Oregon and current Director of the State and Local Government Programs of the Kennedy School of Government, Barbara K. Roberts introduced the first panel, which focused on the rights of gay and lesbian youths.

Richard Socarides, special assistant to the president and senior advisor for public liaison began the discussion by outlining the most recent attempts by the federal government to promote gay rights.

These efforts include a non-discrimination policy and formal conversations on gay rights between the president and gay and lesbian youths.

"One of our main goals is to protect the health and safety of gay youths." Socarides said.

In an effort to realize that goal, Socarides said the Departments of Justice and Education have recently initiated the production of a manual on prevention of hate crimes. The centers for Disease Control and Prevention have also conducted a study about gay youths as risk.

K. Kelli Peterson, co-founder of first gay straight alliance (GSA) in the State of Utah shifted the focus of the discussion to youth activism, describing her struggles to create a gay student organization in the "conservative" city of Salt Lake City, Utah.

Citing the club as a "major issue during an election year," Peterson said concerns about the existence of the GSA led to a March 1996 Salt Lake City school board ban on all non-curricular activities.

"We understood that the GSA had to be allowed to continue--that it was an organization which brought people together," she said.

As the final speaker on the panel, Kevin B Jennings '85, executive director of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) focused on the history of the gay rights movement and the increased role of queer youth in the movement.

"Young people are coming out. They are demanding that their voices be heard. Homophobia in schools is not new. Young people just won't take it anymore." Jennings said.

Calling this recent historical period, "the best of times and the worst of times," Jennings said the positioning of gay rights at the forefront of political debate has caused an increase in attacks against gays and lesbians.

"It is incredible that youths are speaking up, yet that leaves them vulnerable to both verbal and physical attack. The attitude of young people confronting bigotry has changed." Jennings said.

The panel was moderated by Jarrett T. Barrios '90, former co-chair of the Harvard-Radcliffe Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Students Association.

The conference also included an afternoon panel on marriage and families.

The Harvard-Radcliffe Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Transgendered and Supporters Alliance (BGLTSA) and the Kennedy School of Government Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Student Caucus sponsored Saturday's event.

Adam A. Sofen '01, one panel's organizers and a Crimson editor, said he hopes people are inspired by the words of the panelists.

"People should feel a sense of outrage about the atrocities committed against gay youth," Sofen said. "We are very sheltered here at college. That is not the case all over the country."

Christopher E. Holloway '01 echoed Sofen's sentiments, suggesting the problem is more specific than physical attacks on gay students.

"They get no support from government institutions and schools. Obviously oppression is still present in societal institutions," he said.