​A long way to go

For the past week, Duke’s campus has been abuzz with discussions of LGBTQ rights. Last Friday, Jim Obergefell visited Duke to speak to students about his role in the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states. On Saturday, Pride celebrations occurred on East Campus only a few days after Governor McCrory announced that he would drop a lawsuit against the Department of Justice after its appeal of House Bill 2. As we celebrate the progress, We should recognize that the fight for LGBTQ rights did not end with the achievement of marriage equality and consider avenues for its advancement.

These past few months in North Carolina have illuminated the bias and discrimination against the LGBTQ community that still exists in our state. House Bill 2, which quickly passed through the North Carolina state legislature, highlighted a lack of respect for transgender individuals in the state. The bill barred local municipalities from implementing anti-discriminatory policies, and mandated that transgender individuals utilize the bathroom of the gender assigned to them at birth. Recognizing this, we see an opportunity for students to engage with the queer community to potentially push for legal change.

While we applaud Duke’s non-discrimination policies with regard to the LGBTQ community, we know that in many respects, as a country, we are far from a post-LGBTQ discrimination era. As such, we urge students to challenge their representatives to implement non-discrimination policies on a statewide and national level. Think about the times in American history when certain immigrant and religious groups were met with blatant, ubiquitous discrimination. If it seems ridiculous that legislative action was not swifty taken then, it should seem equally ridiculous right now. In addition to advocating for legal pushes, we encourage students to expose themselves to queer culture and normalize it in their own minds. By truly embracing the queer community, students can help others in their communities escape an apathetic “live and let live mentality” and also actively support the LGBTQ community.

As allies who recognize and respect the spectrum of gender and sexuality, we hold the power to transform the way we interact with the LGBTQ community. First, by using a person’s preferred pronouns, even when they are not necessarily around to hear us, we can legitimize the respect we feel for our queer community in a substantive way. Organizations can utilize this awareness while producing flyers and documents. Second, by condemning the use of homophobic slurs calling out our peers who use language derogatory to those of the LGBTQ community, we can clearly display respect for the community. Third, by rallying behind movements like those calling for the repeal of House Bill 2, we can display basic solidarity with LGBTQ individuals. In whatever way you choose to engage, you should seek out resources from organizations like the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity and Blue Devils United, educate yourself on issues affecting the LGBTQ community and seek to rectify them.

The future struggle for true LGBTQ equality will indubitably be difficult. While we appreciate the immense strides that have been made so far, we look forward to the fight and dream ahead.