www.gay-sd.com


FROM PAGE 1 COLLEGES


that I think speaks volumes,” said Case, also noting a Queer People of Color Conference held this spring on the campus. SDSU was not the only local


university to receive high marks for its LGBT-friendly programs and practices. The University of California San Diego (UCSD) received a 4.5 ranking from Campus Pride. Shane Windmeyer, executive di-


rector of Campus Pride and creator of the Campus Climate Index, said that though UCSD scored a half- point lower than SDSU, it should nevertheless be commended for its LGBT-inclusive efforts. For two years UCSD hosted


Shane Windmeyer, e‘ecutive direc- tor of Campus Pride.


Cartwright, former president of SDSU’s LGBT Student Union, was quoted as saying that the ongoing anti-gay sentiment had become commonplace, and that a “hetero- sexist, macho athletics climate” was pervasive on campus. Cartwright said he had personally witnessed eggs being thrown at LGBT activ- ists earlier that semester. Yet three years later, SDSU


appears to have made significant strides toward LGBT inclusive- ness. The university recently re- ceived a five-star ranking from Campus Pride, a nonprofit organi- zation that works to create a safe and welcoming college environ- ment for LGBT students. Three years ago Campus


Pride introduced its Campus Cli- mate Index, which rates the at- mosphere for LGBT students on campuses nationwide. Via a voluntary questionnaire


submitted by students and fac- ulty to Campus Pride, colleges are ranked from one to five stars based on a school’s LGBT-friendly policies and programs. Campus Pride has ranked more


than 230 colleges, though only 19 received SDSU’s five-star rat- ing this year, including UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC Riverside andHum- boldt State University in California. “It definitely shocked me,”


said Cartwright, who has since graduated and is now on the staff of SDSU’s Associated Students. “There have been a lot of chang- es in the past few years... . Back then I figured we would never make it into the top 500, let alone the top 20. “SDSU now has a number of


Safe ³ones throughout the campus which are marked by a pink trian- gles, indicating intolerance will not be stood for,” he said. “We have [an annual] rainbow flag-raising; the school now offers LGBT stud- ies as a minor ... and this year we had our first Lavender Graduation, a mini-commencement ceremony in which LGBT students can honor and celebrate their achievements. Twenty-one students signed up and we packed the house with over 100 attendees. “For as unfortunate as The


Koala incident was,” Cartwright said, “it really started conversa- tions that needed to be had.” Though Case said he feels the


attack against him was more of an isolated incident, he agrees that it may have served as a catalyst for the positive changes that have since occurred at SDSU. “More important than what


happened with The Koala was how the campus responded,” Case said, noting a well-attended rally against hate that was organized shortly after, at which SDSU President Stephen Weber “very eloquently” denounced the incident. “The support that came from


Campus Pride’s LGBT-Friendly College Fair, while Shaun Trav- ers, director of UCSD’s LGBT Resource Center, “has really done amazing work,” Windmeyer said. “I would be really surprised if


they don’t have a five-star rating [in the future],” he said. Case said he was “a little sur-


prised” that SDSU ranked higher than UCSD. “I think that in order to get


the top ranking [a college] ought to have an LGBT resource center on campus, ... one that is funded and run by the university,” Case said, noting plans for a new stu- dent union building at SDSU that would include such a center. Conspicuously absent from


Campus Pride’s rankings list is the University of San Diego (USD), a Roman Catholic institu- tion located in Linda Vista. Erin Lovette-Colyer, director


NEWS


of the USD Women’s Center, said she doesn’t know why the univer- sity wasn’t ranked. “I don’t know if our LGBT


undergraduate organization is connected to any national pride organization, so I don’t know if our students had access to the questionnaire or knew about the nominations process,” she said. However, Windmeyer said he


spoke at the campus two years ago and has since invited USD of- ficials to participate in the survey at least four times. “For whatever reason they’ve


chose not to [participate],” he said. Lovette-Colyer said USD is not


behind the times in its treatment of LGBT students. “We have our undergraduate


organization called Pride,” she said. “The law school also has its own organization called Pride Law. The university offers a safe space program, and we also have a program called Rainbow Educa- tors, which goes into classrooms and educates students about di- versity issues.” Cartwright, who is currently


pursuing a master’s degree at USD, said his experience on that campus has been a positive one. “I’ve walked the campus—I’ve


seen posters taped up announc- ing USD gay pride week,” he said. “There was a big gay carnival in May which was sponsored by the university. When I started my program, it was during the Prop. 8 vote and we’d have discussions


see Colleges, pg 19 FROM PAGE 2 GOPROUD


entire time we were at Log Cabin ... we couldn’t figure out how come we’re not reaching all these other people. We believe strongly that it was because we weren’t talking about the issues that gay conservatives care about.” Barron said the LCR has


largely the same agenda as progressive, Democratic-leaning LGBT organizations, such as the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and “don’t ask, don’t tell.” “There are lots of organiza-


tions doing work on those issues in D.C.,” Barron said. “If you’re a gay person who cares about free market healthcare reform, Social Security reform or tax reform, there was nobody out there work- ing on those issues.” Instead of “preaching to the


choir,” Barron said, gay conser- vatives should be working with heterosexual legislators on mutu- ally beneficial issues. “One of our goals is to


make the case to gay people that conservative policies and conservative principles are good for the gay community,” Barron said. “Another one of our goals is to convince the conservative movement that gay people can be full partners in the conservative movement and that gay people are conservatives and part of the conservative coalition.


August 13-August 26, 2010 GAY SAN DIEGO


7 “You know, gay people are not


just impacted by ENDA and hate crimes,” Barron said. “In fact, I would argue that ENDA and hate crimes impact almost no one. ... . The average gay family ... is talk- ing about the special challenges that they face as gay couples with healthcare, with retirement security, with taxes, any number of issues.” GOProud received some flack


when it co-sponsored the Conser- vative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, D.C., which was boycotted by Jerry Falwell’s Liberty Counsel in response to their participation “We actually had a young


man denounce us from the stage at CPAC and that made national news,” LaSalvia chimed. “We at- tracted a lot of attention.” GOProud is attracting more


attention this month, booking archconservative pundit Ann Coulter to headline its first an- nual “Homocon” event, Sept. 25 in New York City. “The gay left has done their


best to take all the fun out of poli- tics with their endless boycotts and protests,” Barron wrote on GOProud’s website, following his visit to San Diego. “I can’t think of any conservative more fun to headline our inaugural party than the self-professed ‘right-wing Judy Garland.’”


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