FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012
Photo illustration: Kelsey Kremer/Iowa State Daily Hollie Butcher, a self-identified pansexual and senior in psychology, stays quiet for the National Day of Silence.
A LIFE OF SILENCE By Kayla.Kienzle @iowastatedaily.com
Thousands of children, teens and even adults go to school each day deprived of a positive experience because of insensitivity and cruelty shown by peers and staff. Fourteen years ago, at the University of Virginia, the National Day of Silence was started as a student-led event to bring attention to antilesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender namecalling, bullying and harassment in schools. Today, students from middle school to college take a vow of silence in an effort to encourage schools and classmates to address the prob-
lem of anti-LGBT behavior. Recently, Kenneth Weishuhn, a gay teen from Northwestern Iowa, took his own life, after family and friends say classmates sent him death threats and made him the subject of a hate group because of his sexuality. The gay marriage law in Iowa has also created stir and attention. “Obviously there is excessive bullying, especially if things [like this] keep popping up,” said Hollie Butcher, treasurer for Iowa State’s Alliance group. The Alliance group aims to educate the community on LGBT issues and support members of the community as well as to create resources and an ally community.
“Here [at Iowa State], I do think that LGBT members are treated differently, but it is trickier to identify because many times it’s not blatant discrimination,” Butcher said. Butcher identifies herself as a pansexual. “I see people for who they are not, what they are, gender doesn’t matter,” Butcher said, when describing her sexual orientation. At Iowa State, she has not experienced severe discrimination but has heard stories from others. “Sometimes things will be shouted at me; that actually happens a lot,” Butcher said. Often times the unequal treatment is minute and possibly even subconscious.
“People will assume without asking that I have a boyfriend. At times I don’t know how or whether I should correct them,” Butcher said. With support and resources, Butcher has been able to become more comfortable while at Iowa State. Things such as the safe zone training stickers outside offices and student services have made her feel like the ISU community is more accepting. In high school, Butcher had not told anyone she identified as pansexual. “In high school, many are silenced because they don’t even feel comfortable with their sex-
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His HONESTY made me
LOVE
him even MORE Acceptance still is not guaranteed
Silence intimidates as much as hatred
couldn’t help but wonder why his hands were trembling so much during our regular lunch that day. I’ve noticed it more and more, ever since. The travel of his food from his plate to his mouth was more like a plane through turbulence than a skater across ice. He attributed his weak appetite to his erratic sleep schedule. Oftentimes, though, his leftovers would be enough for a full-sized meal to most. He just hadn’t been himself.
Editor’s note:
I
By Jake.Lovett @iowastatedaily.com I’ve known him for almost four years. He’s been a mentor, a confidant and a counselor for me, helping me through anything and everything, both personal or professional. He knows everything there is to know about me, and I — or so I thought — knew all there was to know
about him. I didn’t. Nearly two months ago, he opened up to me. It was difficult enough for him to say, despite the usual hum of a busy afternoon at Hickory Park. “I’m gay.” We talked at length about his coming out, and I repeatedly tried to assure him that his openness would change nothing in the way that I thought of him, and yet his hands still shook; his stomach clenched tight by a crip-
FRIENDSHIP.p14 >>
The following is a column about the coming out process for one member of the ISU community. The author has chosen to remain anonymous to keep his identity from those close to him who do not yet know about his sexuality.
I
’d fallen in love. Again. It was roughly the second time it had happened since I’d come to Iowa State. The second time that was the least bit meaningful, at least. The stories were roughly the same. We ate lunch and dinner together often and hung out a lot out in between classes, after work and on the weekends; we got
along well enough, thought about and approached problems similarly, shared some interests, blah, blah, blah... For the record, this whole “coming out” thing was never on my bucket list. It seems so cliche. And over-blown. Like a marginalized kid’s cry for attention and / or love and acceptance. No. My plan, once I’d started to come to terms with my attraction to men, was just to find somebody, get married, raise a family and grow old together. Like people do. Where’s the need for all the fanfare, to say to the world, “Hey! I’m going to start doing what you’ve all been doing for years!”? It seemed... unnecessary. But let’s back up a bit.
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Volume 207 | Number 144 | 40 cents | An independent student newspaper serving Iowa State since 1890. | A 2010-11 ACP Pacemaker Award winner