I am writing in response to the Sept. 30 e-mail sent by Zoila Airall about the East Campus bridge incident. Here is what actually happened: Someone, we do not know who, painted the words “F- this rainbow” and “F- gay pride” over the rainbow Blue Devils United (Duke’s undergraduate LGBTQA organization) painted on the East Campus bridge for the Sept. 26 N.C. Pride Parade. The hate-speech was quickly painted over by Cody Lallier, Jack Grote, and Gina Arevalo of BDU. Yesterday, Zoila Airall, assistant vice president for student affairs, sent out an e-mail speaking to the hurt caused by these words and the importance of having open conversations about hate speech and the experiences of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) students at Duke.
In response to this unfortunate event, Blue Devils United members and friends are hanging rainbow flags outside of their windows as a statement of unity, celebration and support. We hope that the bridge incident and the sudden rainbowing of campus begin a long overdue conversation about the LGBTQ experience at Duke. We as a community cannot afford to stay silent when a group of our students is targeted in such a hurtful way. As Zoila mentioned, change begins when you seek to be educated on these issues and speak out against hate. BDU asks that you engage your living group, sorority or fraternity, and student organization in a My Truth panel and attend an Ally training (for more information, please visit www.lgbt.studentaffairs.duke.edu). We invite every Duke student to attend a Blue Devils United meeting (Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 6 p.m., at the Center for LGBT Life) and walk into our LGBT center anytime between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., meet our students and staff, and learn first-hand what incredible resources we offer for all students.
Most importantly, we ask that you see the connections between all -isms that adversely affect us and realize that one act of hate speech ultimately hurts us all.
Viviana Santiago
President, Blue Devils United
Trinity, ’10
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