During my time at Duke, I was one of the DSG members who fought to bring Chick-fil-A to campus (in addition to McDonald’s, Noah’s Bakery and Jimmy John’s on points). However, my most memorable activities were with the Gothic Queers (LGBTQIA organization) and BSA. During my senior year, we took a stand against the practice of not allowing same-sex unions at the Duke Chapel. These discussions were naturally circular and did not move quickly, similar to dialogue on any historical institutionalized prejudicial practice. One can look how rights are won by chipping away at the organizations and cultural standards that have led to racism, sexism and homophobia.
No, we were not Gandhi, M.L. King, Susan B. Anthony or Harvey Milk and Larry Kramer. We were simply students who still cared to make a difference when our institutional leaders would not. It saddens me to think that Duke has not remained a leader in righting a wrong done by the “old” folks of my era. In 1997 and 1998, (feel free to check DSG minutes), the big question was whether or not Duke would invite Wendy’s or McDonald’s to campus. Wendy’s was a fan favorite, plus the founder R. David Thomas (aka the RDT Center at Fuqua) was still alive and contributing to our business school. He was the Dan Cathy of fast-food of that era. However, RDT’s politically far-right religious preferences kept his daughter’s namesake restaurant out of the Union. Why? Duke students took a stand against an -ism. Nothing big. Not worthy of The News & Observer. You don’t like gays. We don’t like you. Nothing personal.
Now, there was quite a hubbub when Amir Rashid-Farokhi wrote a DSG statement against the ban on same-sex marriages at the Duke Chapel moved forward after our graduation in 2000. By the way, Amir is a straight man who just thought it was a bit silly that he could get married at Duke and I couldn’t. Anyway, guess what? North Carolina is now in the middle of fight on the ban of same-sex marriages in the state. Please see the Equality N.C. Movement.
Duke students should be the local leaders of grass-roots equality movements on all fronts in the state. You are the leaders of tomorrow so you might as well practice leading today.
“Chick-fil-A is anti-gay. At Duke? No-way!”
Akel Robinson, Trinity ’00
President, Duke LGBT Alumni Network (DukeLAN) ’05-’08
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