October 4, 2018

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2018

the lgbtq EditIon October is LGBTQ History Month. ‘The Post’ compiled a collection of stories to explore Athens and OU’s LGBTQ community.

Resources in Appalachia P3

Exploring LGBTQ history in Athens P8

Pronouns, explained P10

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK

Sparking conversation through sensitive reporting n this issue of The Post, we hope to celebrate LGBTQ culture and the individuals, both on our campus and in the larger Athens area, while raising awareness and educating our readers on issues that matter.

We know that sometimes, reality is quite different than what appears on paper. And frankly, it seems that we sometimes live within a well-insulated bubble. Far too often, we think of Athens as a city that harbors diversity in its many forms, yet we know things are far from perfect.

Discrimination, harassment and everyday microaggressions against LGBTQ students and residents are pervasive issues that stymie progress and prevent our university and our city from moving forward. We believe, however, that by telling stories and reporting honestly, we can spark conversation.

In creating this issue, our assistant managing editor, Jessica Hill, constantly consulted with

I LAUREN FISHER EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

members of the Ohio University LGBT Center to ensure that when reporting on these topics, we’re reporting with sensitivity and accuracy. It’s something we’ve been striving to get better at, whether it’s through our regular “Query a Queer” column or by updating our policies to be better in line with the times.

A few years ago, The Post followed the Associated Press with the decision to allow they/them pronouns as singular and, therefore, grammatically acceptable.

Although this might seem like a trivial change to some readers, it can make all the difference to our gender-nonconforming sources.

We train our reporters to be in the constant habit of confirming pronouns when talking with sources, and we reiterate that these pronouns are not preferences — they’re fact.

Since last year, we’ve been partnering with the Office for Diversity and Inclusion to ensure all members of our staff receive SafeZone training in order to become better, more effective allies.

However, we also acknowledge with the publication of the LGBTQ issue, there are still some identities left unexplored and underreported on.

Admittedly, this issue could be better. I wish we would have paid more attention to telling the stories of those who are questioning or identify as intersex, pansexual, two-spirit, androgynous or asexual. While we have come a long way in our understanding and appreciation of the full spectrum of identities, there is still a considerably long way to go.

My hope is that you will find this issue of The Post to be informative, sensitive and celebratory of the vibrant LGBTQ culture and individuals on our campus and in our city.

Lauren Fisher is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University and the editorin-chief of The Post. Have questions? Email Lauren at lf966614@ohio.edu or tweet her @Lauren__Fisher.

Cover design and issue illustrations by Marcus Pavilonis

THE

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LAUREN FISHER MANAGING EDITOR Maddie Capron DIGITAL MANAGING EDITOR Alex McCann ASST. MANAGING EDITOR Jessica Hill CREATIVE DIRECTOR Abby Gordon EDITORIAL NEWS EDITORS Sarah M. Penix, Ellen Wagner INVESTIGATIVE EDITOR Bailey Gallion SPORTS EDITOR Spencer Holbrook CULTURE EDITOR Alexis Eichelberger OPINION EDITOR Chuck Greenlee COPY CHIEF Laila Riaz ART ART DIRECTOR Abbey Phillips GRAPHICS EDITOR Riley Scott DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Meagan Hall DIGITAL DIGITAL PRODUCTION EDITOR Megan Knapp SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Kate Ansel BLOGS EDITOR Georgia Davis MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Alex Penrose DIRECTOR OF PODCASTS Madeleine Peck

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resources on campus When first arriving in Athens, freshmen may find the unfamiliar environment daunting. Finding places where they feel comfortable, where they can find a group of friends and where they can ask questions are what most people want when first arriving to campus. And for people who are LGBTQ, these concerns may be heightened. Ohio University’s LGBT Center — as well as other programs through OU and around Athens — offers different resources for students and faculty.

JESSICA HILL | ASST. MANAGING EDITOR

INFOGRAPHIC BY ABBEY PHILLIPS

OU LGBTQ-FRIENDLY INCLUSION BREAKDOWN SEXUAL ORIENTATION SCORE

GENDER IDENTITY/EXPRESSION SCORE

Gender-neutral housing Ohio University offers gender-neutral housing to focus on creating a safe, inclusive living space for any student, regardless of sex, gender, sexual orientation and gender expression.

Living in gender-neutral housing does not cost more than other residence halls, and the designated space is located in True House on South Green, according to OU’s Housing and Residence Life website.

True house Lgbt Mentoring Program

LGBT lending library

Mentoring is available for students through the LGBT Center. The program lasts a year, and students can sign up to be both mentors and mentees to provide each other with support and social connection.

The LGBT Center, located on the third floor of Baker Center, offers a library of books and movies related to LGBTQ history, literature and feminist theory. No membership is required, and people are allowed to borrow books for up to three weeks at a time.

gender-neutral bathroom locationS Baker Center Crewson House Cutler Hall Hudson Health Center McKee House Morton Hall Nelson Court Schoonover Center Seigfred Hall

student names policy Approved in 2015, the Student Names Policy allows students to input their preferred name and pronouns in their My OHIO Student Center. The preferred names are used in classroom settings and anywhere a legal name is not required. Financial aid, housing contracts, admission-related processes and payroll are some areas in which legal names are still used.

LGBTQ POLICY INCLUSION

LGBTQ SUPPORT & INSTITUTIONAL COMMITMENT

LGBTQ ACADEMIC LIFE

LGBTQ STUDENT LIFE

LGBTQ HOUSING & RESIDENCE LIFE

LGBTQ CAMPUS LIFE

LGBTQ COUNSELING & HEALTH LIFE

LGBTQ RECRUITMENT & RETENTION LIFE

Walter Hall Walter Fieldhouse

*Data provided by Campus Pride Index

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 3

QUERY A QUEER

we are pride Many thanks to The Post for creating this rainbowlicious edition and for ongoing support throughout the year.

I am often asked if being “a LGBT” is a choice? Many have delfin responded to this question with, bautista “Why would anyone choose (pronouns: this life?” or “Why would anythey/them/ one choose the hardship?” or their) is “Why would anyone choose to director of the LGBT be discriminated?” Most reCenter cently, however, I’ve decided to at Ohio rant to the world, “Why NOT University. choose being queer?!?!” I am not ashamed, and there is nothing wrong or “less than” for being me, or being you, or being us. We need to take pride in our is-ness and should not, cannot, will not feel shame or have folks throw misguided shade.

I honestly don’t think LGBT identities are choices. However, if I could choose, I would choose queer every day. This is not to undermine the experiences of hardship that many, myself included, have experienced: discrimination, rejection, isolation, violence and confusion.

But I also have done some incredible things like engaging different universities in faith-grounded conversations regarding inclusion of LGBTQ students, getting to hang out with folks who teach me every day about beingness, and getting to join my voice with the countless others advocating for “all are welcome” to truly mean “all are welcome” at Ohio University and beyond. Also, it’s fun being the person who “scares inclusivity” into people on and off campus.

I don’t want us to feel bad about ourselves or for others to take pity — no to the pity! I want people to be proud of us and for all of us to pridefully chant: “We are here, we are queer and we aren’t going anywhere!”

It is an exciting moment to live into pride at OU — we are celebrating the LGBT Center’s 20th rainbowversary. At the same time, this pride is not at the expense of raising awareness about the challenges and tragedies we have endured and continue to endure as a community.

• The murders of transgender people, especially trans women of color, in the U.S. and around the world that go unreported and unnoticed.

• The microaggressions that students experience everyday in the classroom and other spaces on Athens campus and all OU campuses.

• The reality that, yes, we can get married, but we can also be fired in 30 states and executed in 7 countries.

• Folks in our community who are targeted with sexual violence and other forms of violence for being LGBT with little or no re4 / OCT. 4, 2018

course from our community.

• The whitewashing, ciswashing and heterowashing of the radicalness of LGBTQ folks, our contributions, and our stories.

• The kids who are kicked out of their homes for living and loving beyond the norm.

• The countless and often unknown victims of sexualized violence who identify as trans, gender variant or queer.

• Just a month ago, a 9-year-old gay boy committed suicide in Colorado.

Claiming and reclaiming that we are pride is a re-energizer to continue to counter the violence and silencing of queer lives. We are pride, and we honor with pride: • Sylvia Rivera, Marsha P. Johnson, Miss Major and all those who refused to be bullied and silenced at Stone Wall.

• The repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell in 2010.

• June 26, 2015, when marriage equality became the law of the land.

• We are living at a time where there are more and more out political candidates running for office and being elected into office.

• In 2017, the City of Athens banned conversion therapy on minors.

• In June, we had our first Pride Parade as a community.

• OU has and is and will be taking steps to fully live into diversity and inclusion. We have an LGBT Center, gender-neutral housing, the LGBTQ Studies Certificate, a name and pronoun policy, trans healthcare for students and employees and the LGBT Living Experience. Also, we are creating more gender-inclusive restrooms.

We reflect and we remember our heroes, sheroes and *insert-gender-neutral-pronoun*-roes: Gloria Anzaldua, Albus Dumbledore, Bayard Rustin, Ellen Page, Frank Ocean, Carmen Carrera, Langston Hughes, Harvey Milk, Alice Walker, Neil Patrick Harris, Zachary Quinto, RuPaul, Tom Daley, Laverne Cox, Audre Lorde and Margaret Cho. They are trailblazers past and present, who spark and rekindle our commitment to embodying #bobcatrainbowwarriorfierceness.

We are pride! All of us, without exception, are fabulous, fierce, glittery, amazing and unicornlicious! We are pride, we are here, we are queer, we have always been here and we will always be here. Cheers and queers!

Do you have a question relating to the LGBT community? Individuals who submit questions will appear anonymously in our responses. All questions are welcome! Don’t hold back!

what is bisexuality?

Bisexuality is being attracted to genders that are the same and different from mine or yours.

Destiniee Bisexuality is Jaram awesome. Not (pronouns: that I chose to she/her/ be bisexual, but hers) is a it certainly has sophomore its benefits. The studying journalism dating pool is at Ohio doubled, so the University and rate of scoring is a columnist doubled. I walk for OU’s LGBT around with Center. hearts in my eyes for anyone I think is attractive. I love that I’m bi. I’m extremely prideful and accepting about my sexuality. But my sexuality wasn’t something I was honest or comfortable with myself about for years.

Coming out to yourself is an intricate situation, for anyone. It forces you to come to terms with parts of your identity that are repressed, ignored and maybe even loathed.

Coming out as bisexual can be even more difficult. Society lives in a world of black and white. Many people are uncomfortable or confused by the gray section, where everything can get messy and nuanced. Identity expansion can be intimidating to navigate.

My personal advice is to listen to yourself. If you are questioning — bisexual, lesbian or asexual — is to trust yourself. If kissing girls is a thought that you can even consider, that probably means more than you think it does. Be curious. Go out and explore your identity and try new experiences. In a setting where you are comfortable, the worst that can happen is you don’t like something, so you don’t do it anymore. The best situation? Well, you might just really enjoy yourself.

I also recommend activities that encourage self-reflection. This could be journaling your thoughts and feelings, meditation or even writing poetry. It will give you a sense of clarity, and you can revisit old experiences for identity growth.

Don’t forget that identity devel-

opment takes time and patience.

Understanding yourself is a process. Self-awareness is an asset that comes with perseverance and dedication. Remember to always be loving and kind towards yourself.

Even after coming out and feeling secure in my sexuality, the validity of it is still constantly questioned.

People patronize me (“Are you sure you’re not straight?”), erase my identity (“Everyone is either gay or straight”) and downright deny my sexality (“Bisexuality is not real”).

Some days, it feels like I am fighting to be believed, and it is hurtful and invalidating. It’s important to remember that when you’re feeling isolated, no one is alone and someone will understand you.

Here are some great resources for my bisexual friends. You can also talk to a trusted friend or stop by the LGBT Center, located in Baker 354. Bi-Local is a community supporting the visibility of bisexuals based in Columbus. Bi-Local is open to bisexuals, pansexuals and nonmonosexualities, and it hosts meetings every second Thursday of the month at Bossy Grrl’s Pin Up Joint, 2598 N. High St., Columbus.

There are plenty of online resources available as well, but here are a few that I highly recommend.

The Bisexual Resource Center is a community devoted to serving the bisexual community. The website provides global research and resources for nonmonosexualities.

The Trevor Project is a leading national organization serving crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to the queer community and questioning people under 25.

GLSEN is an organization with the mission to create an impervious and inclusive academic environment for the LGBT community.

Have questions? We have answers! Send your questions via email to lgbt@ohio.edu and/or oulgbtcenter@gmail.com; via Tumblr (oulgbtcenter); via Twitter to @ oulgbtcenter with #qaqueer; or post/message to Facebook (oulgbtcenter). So bring it on, do it to it and query a queer.

EDITORIAL

Why we created the LGBTQ EDITION As a leading source of news at Ohio University and in Athens, The Post tries to represent all groups of people who live here.

Admittedly, we struggle at this some times. We do not cover every issue that pertains to every resident of Athens. We find missed opportunities to write about groups like the Black Student Cultural Programming Board, Young Life or the Intersectional Feminist Alliance. We realize it is important to cover those groups, and others like them, in order to reflect diversity that is present on and off campus. We are trying to do better.

With Oct. 11 marking National Coming Out Day and October celebrating LGBTQ History Month, as well as the OU LGBT Center celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the editors at The Post wanted to create an issue that explores and discusses topics that pertain to people who identify

as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and many others who may get overlooked in regular media coverage.

Some of the stories included in this issue cover the development of inclusion at OU and explore general definitions some people may not fully understand, such as “skoliosexuality.” Other stories dive into different proposed policies that could affect those who identify as LGBTQ. We tackle the representation of LGBTQ-identifying people in television shows and give Athens residents a space to share their stories of what it’s like to be an LGBTQ individual in a small, Appalachian city.

It is also worth noting that throughout this issue, many of our reporters talked with staff members from the LGBT Center. We attempted to speak with a diverse number of sources in Athens and at OU, but we

couldn’t ignore what is the hub of the LGBT Center for different topics and resources. delfin bautista, the director of the center, also wrote a column, which is featured in the issue, detailing not only some of the strides people a part of the LGBTQ community have made, but also some of the historical tragedies and present-day problems that have and are impacting the community.

With these stories, we acknowledge that we, as The Post editorial board, cannot fully understand or claim to know everything about LGBTQ people. We do not try to take their experiences and publish them for our own gain to show our readers that we are diverse. Rather, we try to learn and understand the daily and lifelong struggles that individuals encounter, and we try to show the strengths and celebrations of the LGBTQ community. We want to share their stories

to highlight the journey LGBTQ individuals underwent, as well as what is yet to come.

Mainly, The Post wants to show its support to members of the LGBTQ community by giving a platform to tell their stories.

There is a lot left to do at OU to make it a more inclusive environment, and there is much left for us to do as well, but we can start to do our part by listening, reporting and telling stories that matter.

Editorials represent the majority opinion of The Post’s executive editors: Editor-in-Chief Lauren Fisher, Managing Editor Maddie Capron, Digital Managing Editor Alex McCann, Assistant Managing Editor Jessica Hill and Creative Director Abby Gordon. Post editorials are independent of the publication’s news coverage.

MISCHIEF MANAGED

Dumbledore’s sexuality was just a cop-out GEORGIA DAVIS is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University.

There is no question that Harry Potter is not the most diverse series. It lacks representation, though a lot of those problems arose in the casting for the movies. But in October 2007, a few months after the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, author J. K. Rowling announced that Dumbledore is gay and had a love affair with dark wizard Grindelwald.

Dumbledore being gay is obviously not a problem, but the way Rowling brought it up as an afterthought is an issue. If Dumbledore’s sexuality was an important part of his character, why not write it into the books?

Why leave it up to the interpretation of the readers?

It is easy to see why Rowling wouldn’t want to print that Dumbledore is gay in a book: She could possibly lose money. Putting those three letters in there and discussing the sexuality of a beloved character could upset close-minded individuals who believe a fictional character’s interest in people of the same sex could be troubling. At that point in the se-

ries though, Rowling could afford to take risks with character development. People were invested in the story, and it had changed the lives of those who loved them. And in the final installment, Dumbledore had already died, and it was only his past that was really in the story.

If his sexuality was not important in furthering his character, then why say he’s gay in the first place?

Rowling made it seem like she did not want to say he was gay on paper, so she took the character to the next level months after the last book was released. It was an easy cop-out.

That’s the problem with ever-evolving universes.

A creator can just continue adding to the narrative and change aspects of the story based on public criticism. Rowling faced recent criticism with the casting of a Korean woman as Nagini, the Maledictus person who later becomes Voldemort’s subservient snake, in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.

Similar to that of Dumbledore, some people believe the casting and development of Nagini was a way to bring more diverse characters into the universe.

There was no mention of Nagini being a Maledictus in the original series.

Young Dumbledore will also be featured in The Crimes of Grindelwald, but the film will not “explicitly” show the then-Transfiguration professor’s relationship with Grindelwald, according to director David Yates.

And that’s where the discussion of Dumbledore’s characterization comes in. It would have been the perfect time to explore his sexuality. Instead, there will be many disappointed Harry Potter fans wanting to know more about their favorite headmaster.

Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. What is your opinion on Dumbledore’s sexuality? Tell Georgia by tweeting her at @georgiadee35.

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 5

POLICE BLOTTER

Intoxicated man kicks down door; penny jar stolen JACKIE OSBORNE SLOT EDITOR You’ve heard of petty theft, but have you ever heard of penny theft?

The Athens County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a theft from a residence in New Marshfield on Friday.

The woman said a woman had stopped at her home and stole her jar of pennies, according to the report. The case is under investigation.

BREAKING AND PAYING On Sunday, the sheriff’s office responded to a residence on May Avenue in Chauncey for a report of an active break-in.

On the scene, deputies found that an intoxicated man had kicked the front door in. He cooperated with the deputies and was arrested. He was transported to Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail and charged with disorderly conduct.

The property owner spoke to the suspect the next day. He decided to not file charges and made arrangements for him to replace the damaged property. The case was closed.

DUDE, WHERE’S MY DOG? Deputies responded to a report Saturday for a complaint of a stolen dog in Trimble Township.

The dog was located on the property and was determined not to be stolen or missing. No further action was needed.

WATCH YOUR BAG On Friday, the sheriff’s office took a report from a woman who said her purse was stolen.

She placed her pursed on the front seat of her vehicle at Mel’s Roadhouse, 10971 State Route 550, and walked back to tell her friends she was leaving, according to the report.

When she returned, the purse was gone. The purse is a white cross-body purse containing a large purple wallet.

FAMILY TREE The sheriff’s office responded to a call Saturday from a man who said someone was trespassing on his neighbor’s property.

On the scene, deputies found the person was a family member of the property owner who had cut down a tree, according to the report. Deputies spoke to the home-

owner, who said he did not want to pursue criminal charges. The case was closed.

SCHOOLED The sheriff’s office reported to the football field at the Athens City Early Learning Center — formerly Chauncey Elementary School — regarding a man passed out on the bleachers Monday.

There was no one present when deputies arrived on the scene. According to the report, the school property and surrounding area were searched, and no one was located.

GOOD BOY On Monday, the sheriff’s office received a complaint of a dog barking at a residence in Alexander Township.

Deputies checked on the dog, which seemed to be in good health, and spoke to the owner. No further action was needed.

TIRE TROUBLE Last Wednesday, the sheriff’s office responded to a residence on State Route 685 for a report of a suspicious vehicle.

The vehicle had been parked in the driveway for an extended period of time, according to the report. On the scene, dep-

uties found that the vehicle had a flat tire.

The owners of the vehicle were waiting for someone to come and tow the vehicle from the residence. The case was closed.

FALSE ALARMS The sheriff’s office responded to three alarms over the weekend.

On Friday, deputies were dispatched to a residence on Poston Road in response to an activated alarm. On the scene, deputies found it to be a maintenance worker. No further action was needed, and the case was closed.

On Sunday, the sheriff’s office responded to Lawn Masters & More, 4725 Hebbardsville Road, in reference to an activated business alarm. The business was determined to be secure, and no further action was taken.

Deputies responded to Dollar General, 8980 United Lane, for an activated alarm Sunday. The business was checked and found to be secure.

@JACKIEOU_OHYEAH JO019315@OHIO.EDU

NEWS BRIEFS

Clery Act states increase in crime at OU; hundreds attend ‘It’s on Us, Bobcats’ rally SARAH M. PENIX NEWS EDITOR INCREASE IN CRIMES REPORTED ON OU'S ATHENS CAMPUS IN 2017 The university had a slight increase in crimes reported in 2017, according to the Ohio University 2018 Clery Act Annual Security Report.

Kerri Griffin, interim director of Title IX University Equity and Civil Rights Compliance, said in a news release the increase could be a result of several different factors.

“Multiple factors may have contributed to this slight increase, including growth in 6 / OCT. 4, 2018

the campus population as well as a continued focus on educating the campus community about where to make reports in an effort to connect victims to resources,” Griffin said in the news release. “In addition, each year’s data include crimes that were reported in that year; some of those crimes may have occurred in a prior year.”

The report contains information regarding campus security and personal safety, such as crime prevention, local law enforcement authority, crime report policies, disciplinary procedures and other matters of importance related to campus security, Griffin said in the news release.

It also includes crime statistics on Ath-

ens regional and extension campuses from 2015, 2016 and 2017. The Athens statistics on campus also include crimes that occurred in on-campus residence halls, off-campus buildings controlled by OU and public property within or adjacent to the campus.

According to the Annual Security Report, arrests due to liquor law and drug law violations have increased in the past year.

Arrests made from liquor law violations increased from 2016. According to the report, there were 24 liquor law violation arrests on campus in 2017 and 12 arrests in 2016. Drug law violations also increased with 324 arrests on campus in 2017 and 278 drug law violation arrests in 2016.

Reports of rape slightly increased, according to the crime statistics for Athens campus in the Annual Security Report. In 2017, there were 33 reports of rape and 32 rape reports in 2016.

There was also an increase in reports for domestic violence, dating violence, robbery and burglary. There were no reports of domestic violence in 2016 but two reports in 2017. In 2017, there were 19 reports of dating violence and 9 reports in 2016.

In 2015 and 2016, there were no reports of robbery on campus, but in 2017, there were three. There were 16 reports of burglary in 2017 and 15 reports in 2016.

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'IT’S ON US, BOBCATS' RALLY CALLS ON CAMPUS TO ADDRESS SEXUAL ASSAULT About 500 students gathered on College Green for the “It’s on Us, Bobcats” march and rally Thursday to call for an end to sexual assault on campus and express their support for sexual assault survivors.

The rally was held in response to the 15 reports of rape and sexual imposition that have been reported to the Ohio University Police Department and Athens Police Department since Aug. 25.

The march began on College Green and continued down Court, East State and South College streets, where banners still hung on sorority and fraternity houses. As they marched, students joined in various chants, including, “stand up, fight back” and “no justice, no peace.”

When the marchers returned to College Green, the students gathered around the steps in front of Cutler Hall, where they shouted, “Brick by brick, wall by wall, we will make the system fall.”

Seven students gave speeches during the rally about why campus sexual assault culture needs to change and what students need to do to make that change a reality.

99

OUPD TO OFFER MORE RAPE AGGRESSION DEFENSE TRAINING DURING FALL SEMESTER The Ohio University Police Department is now offering four Rape Aggression Defense, or RAD, programs during Fall Semester.

RAD training is a self-defense course created just for women. In previous years, only one program was offered per semester.

The training is a 15-hour program that focuses on mental and physical preparation with a strong emphasis on physical defensive techniques, according to the Clery Act. The program is meant to encourage students and faculty to share responsibility for their security and the security of others.

“We have other self-defense classes that anyone could attend, but RAD is specifically for women,” OUPD Lt. Tim Ryan said.

The RAD program is taught by OUPD officers who have been certified to teach the courses. The course takes place once a week for six weeks.

@SARAHMPENIX SP936115@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 7

A look into OU’s LGBTQ History 2010 From left to right, Adam Russell, Katie Tabor and Eric Morris review the itinerary for Ohio University’s trip to an LGBT conference in Madison, Wisconsin, on Feb. 17, 2010.

(ERIC JONES / ARCHIVE)

2002

Sarah Finch and other OU students march in a picket line on Union Street to protest against graffiti placed on the wall in April 2002. The graffiti left on the wall were threats and promoted violence.

(ERIC LAFAY / ARCHIVE)

JESSICA HILL | ASST. MANAGING EDITOR

2011

T

Sarah Moore, Brittany Waynscott and Brittany Park mingle at Queer Prom by the welcoming table.

Slinkies, plastic jewelry and other toys were given out as party favors during Queer Prom on March 4, 2011. (MADDIE MCGARVEY / ARCHIVE)

he Ohio University LGBT Center has become a driving force for inclusion and diversity on campus, but long before the office on the third floor of Baker Center came to be, other people and groups paved the path to make the university what it is today.

One of the earliest groups on campus was the Gay and Lesbian Association (GALA), which started in 1972. Jan Griesinger, the then-director of United Campus Ministry who started working in 1967, helped initiate the group and also housed the meetings in the United Campus Ministry facility. When she began to identify as a member of the LGBTQ community, she felt she needed to help students and faculty find supportive spaces.

LGBTQ milestones Ohio University has made strides throughout the years when it comes to inclusion 8 / OCT. 4, 2018

1972 OU Gay & Lesbian Association is founded

1979 First workshop on counseling gay people is offered

1980 Sexual orientation is added to the university NonDiscrimination Policy

1992 Minority Affairs Commission of Student Senate is renamed to “Lesbian Gay Bisexual Commission”

1997 OU Swarm of Dykes is founded.

The name was later changed to “Empowering Women of Ohio”

2003 The LGBT Center is turned into a full-time operation

“The LGBT people felt very safe at UCM space for a lot of years and met there every week,” Griesinger said. “My recollection is that the original group was very, very male, that not many women would go. Not many women wanted to be in a predominantly male space.”

Griesinger paved the way for a great deal of lesbian and gay programming and support throughout her career at OU. Other programs and policies began to follow. In 1975, for instance, a psychologist connected to the university gave a workshop on how to be inclusive of gay and lesbian people in therapy.

“As we created a group to give people support and give people energy, yes, things began to be organized on campus,” Griesinger said. “Get them to adopt a policy, get them to set up an actual LGBT center, which didn’t exist for years.”

Stefan Koob, a junior studying screenwriting and producing, has been digging into LGBTQ history for a video he is making for OU Homecoming. While rifling through cabinets in the LGBT Center to review old photos of clubs and events, he discovered that workshops held in the ‘70s were about coming out to families and the religion plays in perceptions of sexuality.

The Gay and Lesbian Association adapted as it was moved under different departments and was renamed Open Doors. Originally housed under United Campus Ministry, the association later went under Housing and Residence Life, and then the provost before becoming its own department in Baker Center.

“It’s pretty significant, especially given where we are geographically, in terms of politics and culture,” delfin bautista, the director of the LGBT Center said.

In the ‘90s, separate groups began to branch out from Open Doors as some people found the existing programs to not be inclusive or radical enough, bautista, who uses they/them pronouns and the lowercase spelling of their name, said.

One such group was the Swarm of Dykes, created in the ‘90s by radical lesbian feminists, which planned counter-protests and different events. When the OU College Republicans hosted a family val-

2004 ALLY student group, which strives for equal treatment for all minorities, particularly LGBTQ people, is founded

2009 Mickey Hart, the then-director of the LGBT Center, congratulates then-senior Justin Retcher in Baker Ballroom on June 3, 2009.

Thirteen students graduated as part of the eighth annual Pride Graduation.

(ARCHIVE)

Drag performer Miss Terious collects tips during her set in Baker Ballroom on Jan. 28, 2004. (DENNY CULBERT / ARCHIVE)

2004

ues day, the Swarm of Dykes performed a fake lesbian wedding ceremony on College Green. The group’s name was later changed to Empowering Women of Ohio, as many people felt uncomfortable by the usage of the word “dyke.”

“That’s really fascinating and awesome that they did that. It’s really empowering for people to see that, especially now,” Koob said. “There’s a lot of activism happening in the world, and people can get discouraged whether or not their efforts are doing well. I think it’s good to be able to look back at your history and see where you’ve come from.”

Sometimes, however, the group received censorship or backlash. In 2003, for example, an unidentified group defaced the Swarm of Dykes mural with slurs against LGBTQ people, according to a Post archive.

Koob has found that alumni and student opinions on inclusion at OU can be a “mixed bag.”

While talking with different LGBTQ alumni, bautista heard them tell stories about harassment in the residence halls and on Court Street. The alumni reported incidents such as name-calling and physical assaults, but many were not reported.

“If they are reported, how they’re

2005/2006 SHADES student group, which fosters connections between multicultural LGBTQ people, is started

2007 Gender identity and gender expression added to university’s non-discrimination policy

That is a reflection of the progressive nature, or inclusive nature, of the university. The university has pioneered over the years several different efforts and initiatives.”

- delfin bautista, director of the LGBT Center

dealt with is very different,” bautista said.

“Sexual orientation, gender identity, gender policy is not a part of the state’s hate crime policy, so some of these things don’t receive the attention that we would like them to receive.” bautista said alumni tend to have polarizing opinions about their experiences as students at the university.

“You have folks say the university is very supportive. You have folks saying it’s

2011 Genderneutral housing opens in Smith House

not as supportive as people think,” they said. “And maybe a handful of people in between.”

Despite concerns about the university’s quality of support, policies continued to develop and become established to help make OU more inclusive. The university adopted sexual orientation into the non-discrimination policy in 1980, but gender identity was not included in the policy until 2007. In 2013, Graduate Student Senate passed a resolution to include healthcare services for people who identify as transgender.

Most recently, OU has become one of 55 universities nationwide to offer gender-neutral housing. It is also one of the first universities to have names and pronouns adopted into policy and is one of the few universities to offer transgender health-care, bautista said.

“That is a reflection of the progressive nature, or inclusive nature of the university,” bautista said. “The university has pioneered over the years several different efforts and initiatives.”

2013 Graduate Student Senate passes resolution to include health care services for trans individuals

@JESS_HILLYEAH JH240314@OHIO.EDU

2014 PRIDE Alumni Society starts

2015 Student Names Policy is approved

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 9

How identity influences pronouns ASHTON NICHOLS SENIOR WRITER person’s pronouns are a choice — they choose what pronouns to use and how to use them, delfin bautista said. bautista, the director of the LGBT Center, said pronouns like ze, hu, they or per are starting to be used more widely as an alternative for people who do not exclusively identify as either, or both, he or she.

“Ultimately, we know that names have power,” bautista, who uses they/them pronouns and the lowercase spelling of their name, said. “We also know that pronouns have power, and it’s being able to refer to someone that reflects how they identify.

It’s the nice thing to do on a basic level, but it also sends an affirmation to that person that who they are is valid.”

Like society, bautista said language also evolves. They said both can evolve together, but right now, language has not caught up with society yet, specifically with the use of pronouns.

“Sometimes society evolves faster than language, sometimes language evolves faster than society and so I think that’s what we’re living right now,” bautista said.

“We are starting to understand that gender and sexuality are very complicated identities that people hold.”

Joseph Metcalf, a junior studying math education, teaches some of the SafeZone programs on campus and said he will automatically use they/them pronouns until he knows someone’s pronouns for sure.

“I know from my friends who are part of the transgender community and part of the nonbinary community that there is an understanding that not everyone is going to get it right the first time,” Metcalf said.

“Maybe not even the 50th time, but as long as they are trying or remembering then at least most people will understand.”

They/them used as singular pronouns have become a more typical use in society. Other pronouns that can be used are

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per, which is short for person; hu, which is short for human; hir, ze and many more.

“Some pronouns were created for specific communities,” bautista said. “Hir and ze, often get associated with the genderqueer community. But with the use of they/them becoming much more common, some of the other pronouns are falling out of common use.”

Mackenzie Yeauger said she believes pronouns are important because they provide a validity to the person by having their correct pronouns.

“It’s so important to an individual because that’s who we are,” Yeauger, a junior studying medicine, said. “I think the way that we are taught pronouns now days has been misguided due to the fact that it’s been deeply rooted in society for so long.” bautista said people choose their pronouns based on what they feel is right.

They said it is like a click inside of someone, but they also know that someone can change their pronouns over time.

“I think we’re living in this linguistic revolution that is confusing for all of us, both those who are advocates for this conversation, as well as folks who are new to the conversation,” bautista said.

Destiniee Jaram said she believes pronouns relate to a person’s identity.

“I think as a cis person, I don’t have to think about pronouns a lot, and I don’t have to think about how it affects me,” Jaram, a sophomore studying journalism, said.

“They don’t get the privilege to be called what they should be called all the time.”

In new spaces, Jaram said she sometimes will introduce herself and her pronouns to show she is a safe space and an ally.

“I don’t think the conversation should be ‘preferred pronouns,’ I think it should just be ‘pronouns’ because putting ‘preferred’ in it takes away the validity of it,” Jaram said.

“It’s not a preference.”

@ASHTONNICHOLS_ AN614816@OHIO.EDU

PRONOUN USAGE 1: SUBJECT

3: POSSESSIVE 4: POSSESSIVE NOUN 5: REFLEXIVE

1

2

3

4

5

EY

EM

EIR

EIRS

EIRSELF

HE

HIM

HIS

HIS

HIMSELF

{NAME}

{NAME}

{NAME}’S

{NAME}’S

{NAME}’S SELF

PER

PER

PERS

PERS

PERSELF

SHE

HER

HER

HERS

HERSELF

SIE / ZE

SIR / HIR

HIR

HIRS

HIRSELF

THEY

THEM

THEIR

THEIRS

THEIRSELF

VE

VER

VIS

VERS

VERSELF

IT

IT

ITS

ITS

ITSELF

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Reclaiming offensive words How the LGBTQ community is taking back previously offensive words as its own and giving them a new meaning SIERRA NOSER FOR THE POST he LGBTQ community at Ohio University has been working to change the stigma surrounding offensive terms, and LGBTQ students are taking a stance and reclaiming these words as their own.

People saw some of the first positive uses of the words gay and queer in the ‘80s when organizations began using them as part of their titles, Amy White, an executive director of The Southeastern Ohio Rainbow Alliance, said.

Reclaiming those sometimes offensive words can be a form of empowerment, but some recognize that it sometimes is only appropriate in certain spaces, said delfin bautista, director of the LGBT Center, who uses they/them pronouns and the lowercase spelling of their name.

The number one controversy is who can use these reclaimed words because there is a need for a safe space, bautista said.

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“(It’s) kind of a point of pride,” Ariel Keener, a freshman studying sociology, said. “(They’re) just labels at the end of the day.”

It is common for members of the LGBTQ community to refer to themselves as queer. bautista lists themself as queer in their professional description as a staff member at the university.

By reclaiming the word queer, for example, the LGBTQ community is hoping to redefine it as something more empowering and less degrading. The definition of queer is differing in some odd way from what is usual or normal, according to Merriam Webster. That definition, however, is often taken out of context.

“It gives (the LGBTQ community) some of the control over the narrative surrounding them,” White said.

Kylee Clark, a freshman studying communication and public advocacy, said she thinks it is important for individuals of the LGBTQ community to reclaim words because negative connotations can later be

used as empowerment.

“They’re taking the insult and using it to make themselves feel better or think highly of themselves,” Clark said.

She also said if she were talking about empowerment, or something along those lines, she may feel comfortable, as an ally, to use these words with members of the community.

In order to create a safe space, individuals should be mindful of context and safety, bautista said.

A safe space is defined as a place (on a college campus) intended to be free of bias, conflict, criticism or potentially threatening actions, ideas or conversations, according to Merriam Webster.

The LGBT Center located in Baker Center is one place some consider to be a safe space.

The university also offers a program called SafeZone, which is a training program designed to raise awareness about different areas regarding gender and sexuality.

Reclaiming offensive words and phras-

es acts as an opportunity to form a community and spark allies, bautista said.

These words will continue to be a conversation within the community.

There really isn’t one standard reaction, White said. Someone’s reaction depends on the word being used, how it’s being used and the person involved.

“For some, it could still be considered derogatory and hurtful, although it’s becoming less and less,” White said, “I can identify and I do identify as queer, but I would not say that a person’s queer unless I knew that person was comfortable with that identification.”

White also talked about the usefulness of the word queer and how it can encompass all of the LGBTQ community without having to say the longer title.

“We’re here. We’re queer. We’ve always been here,” bautista said.

@SNJOURNALISM SN148317@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 11

LGBTQ rights expanded in India HARDIKA SINGH FOR THE POST

iI

n a historically unanimous ruling, Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code; which has been used for more than 150 years to harass, assault, blackmail and incarcerate people who are LGBTQ in India, was repealed on Sept. 6, 2018 by a five-judge panel, according to a New York Times article.

Anjali Gopalan has played a key role in repealing Section 377 in India, which legally imprisoned people who engaged in same-sex intercourse.

She fights for LGBTQ rights in India and brought change with the help of other activists after she filed a Public Interest Litigation in 2001 against Section 377, according to the Naz Foundation (India) Trust website. Gopalan, founder and executive director of the Naz Foundation (India) Trust, a non-governmental organization, has been creating awareness for HIV/AIDS since the 1990s, along with fighting for equal treatment of LGBTQ society in India, according to the Naz Foundation (India) Trust website.

In Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, same-sex intercourse is described as an “unnatural offense” and states: “Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine. The explanation: Penetration is sufficient to constitute the carnal intercourse necessary to the offence described in this section.”

The law was amended in 2009 as well, but due to appeals filed by various religious groups, same-sex intercourse was criminalized again.

It has now been amended again so people who identify as LGBTQ can have same-sex intercourse without facing fear of prosecution.

Vernil Verma, a graduate student from India studying information and telecommunications, said he finds this new freedom necessary because people should have the right to be whoever they want to be.

Verma is frustrated that India is late in amending its laws because of the rigid traditional and religious ideologies, which influence politics.

“I think we’re getting there,” Verma 12 / OCT. 4, 2018

Young people are the most important for the country’s future,” Madan said. “We need to raise our voices as much as we can.”

- Madhav Madan, a senior studying sport management

said. “I think it’s going to take time.”

He said he believes people who identify as LGBTQ deserve to have a family and adopt children.

He hopes the amendment lasts for at least five to six years. He is concerned the amendments won’t last long as it was already approved in 2009 and then disapproved again in 2013.

Parul Jain, an assistant professor at the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, said the public opinion was one of the factors that helped the law to get approved and disapproved again.

Jain, like Verma, hopes that people who identify as LGBTQ are able to get married.

“This should have been allowed all along,” she said. “There’s always hope.”

Jain said people who are LGBTQ should now not be afraid to display their affection publicly, but there is still stigma attached to it because a lot of variables are attached to it such as personality and region.

Madhav Madan, a senior studying sports management from India, finds the change positive as all people should have the right to do whatever they want.

He, however, is disappointed that the change came so late because of India’s position as a developing, democratic country. He said the main reason for the delay in the law change is because of the high generation gap. Youths are more likely to create change in the society, Madan said.

“Young people are the most important for the country’s future,” Madan said. “We need to raise our voices as much as we can.”

Madan said he wishes LGBTQ people could be married legally and that the change in law is the first step towards freedom in choice.

“This is a really big step,” Madan said.

@HARDIKASINGH28 HS152416@OHIO.EDU

Empowered in performance BAYLEE DEMUTH STAFF WRITER o Chris Nevil, being a drag queen has been an experience of a lifetime.

“Drag is like an escape for me,” Nevil, a financial analyst at OhioHealth, said. “You get to be someone else and just let loose. You get out there and put your all into it.”

Drag is a way for people to dress up as an exaggerated gender and entertain audiences with elaborate costumes, singing and dancing. For many drag performers, the experience is an empowering form of expressing oneself.

Nevil has helped out with many drag shows Athens Uncorked presents once a month for quite some time but just recently got into drag performance last year.

“Last Halloween was my first show I ever did, and it was awesome,” Nevil said. “To take on this bold other persona was such a rush.”

Nevil performs under the stage name Kazma Knights, a crazy performer who isn’t afraid to dance when she’s on stage.

“Kazma is a bit of a comic,” Nevil said. “She loves to dance, but she’s definitely not one to do a death drop.”

In the past year, Nevil has realized how much hard work and planning goes into making a drag queen. From the constant outfit changes to practicing performances in his home, the life of drag performance is a big-time investment.

“When I hear that people do it as their primary job, I can’t help but imagine they have to be working all the time,” Nevil said.

“I practice in my living room a lot, just blaring my music. My neigh-

t

bors probably think I’m crazy, but you gotta do what you gotta do to look good on stage.”

Nevil not only does drag for the fun of it, but for the benefit of others. He hosted his own drag show in memory of his aunt and raised money for the Athens County Board of Developmental Disabilities, which helps integrate individuals with developmental disabilities into the area as valued citizens.

“Drag is a really cool way to raise money for things that may not be easy to raise money for,” Nevil said. “It’s a fun thing to do as well as a great way to help others.”

Since Nevil’s start in drag performing, his friends and family have been very supportive. His friends especially come out and watch him perform whenever they get the chance. Nevil’s parents experienced their son’s first drag performance at a benefit he put on for his mother’s sister. Despite being out of their comfort zones, they loved it.

“My parents had the time of their lives,” Nevil said. “My dad told me I was ‘one heck of a performer,’ so it was very cool. My parents have always been supportive, but I never dreamed they’d come to a drag show.”

Although Nevil grew up in Athens and acknowledges that it’s a fairly cultured city, there were certain aspects of the LGBTQ population that he didn’t know much about until being a part of drag.

“Drag has definitely educated me more regarding different genders,” Nevil said. “There’s a lot of stigma around drag queens that they want to become a woman, or that trans women can’t be drag, but that’s just not the case.”

Loren Marsan, an assistant lecturer of women’s, gender and

Drag is an outlet to present something different, or to make fun of what you present on a regular day. Drag is what you make it, and it can be empowering to take on a different persona.”

- Loren Marsan, assistant lecturer

sexuality studies, chose drag as her dissertation topic and, through research, discovered that drag has been stigmatized since the ‘70s and ‘80s.

“Even within the LGBTQ community, drag queens were making them look bad, especially amongst gay men,” Marsan said.

“Those who did drag were seen outside the norm, making all the

normal gay men look bad.”

In spite of the stigmatized past many people who were drag performers faced, steps have been taken in the right direction to rid drag of its political meaning.

“Drag has an exceedingly long political history of challenging the construction of gender and its presentation,” Marsan said.

“We used to pigeon-hole people into particular identities and then question those identities, but we no longer do that.”

In the past, drag was seen as a hyperbolic presentation to call out the constructiveness of what it was, but today, it’s a performance like no other, Marsan said.

“Drag is an outlet to present something different, or to make fun of what you present on a regular day,” Marsan said. “Drag is what you make it, and it can be empowering to take on a different persona.”

For Bolo J, a consultant to nonprofit organizations, being a drag queen has been an empowering experience that allows for an expression of freedom.

“I personally do it because it represents freedom from oppressive stereotypes that society places on queer people of color,” Bolo J said. “When I perform, I

get to share those clear moments of freedom with the audience.”

Bolo J’s alternate persona is Miss Isis A. Cocoabutter, a “trailer park chic” drag queen.

“She’s pretty much the day after hangover look,” Bolo J said.

“Basically envision Katy Perry's song, ‘Last Friday Night.’ ” Miss Isis A. Cocoabutter has performed a couple of times in Athens for benefit drag shows. Bolo J just recently organized a show at The Union Bar and Grill on behalf of the People’s Justice League.

“PJL is a community group that does a lot for the southern Ohio region to help make places safe for every group of people, whether on campus or out in public,” Bolo J said.

Bolo J was exposed to drag in their undergraduate years and discovered that it was a beautiful thing that they wish more would know about.

“People need to recognize the boundaries of others,” Bolo J said.

“There are differences, and not everyone fits into a box. Drag has evolved in such a way that these boxes don’t exist.”

@BAYLEEDEMUTH BD575016@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 13

Some Athens residents find peace, support with religion JESSICA HILL ASST. MANAGING EDITOR aniel Torres found a family in his church of the Seventh-day Adventists.

Although he grew up Catholic, he went with his aunt to an adventist church in Puerto Rico and was baptized at 11 or 12 years old. He found kinship with the church. Then, he sent the church a special letter in 1982, when he was a sophomore in college, telling it who he was.

The church read the letter during a ceremony and revoked his membership. Another member of the church told him he wasn’t welcome back.

“It was hard,” Torres, a professor of Spanish, said. “I grew up in that church all the way to my college years. I lost that whole family, a whole group of people.

A lot of friends that rejected who I was.”

Some Athens residents who identify as LGBTQ have found support in their religions, while some think, for them, not being religious has helped them rekindle relationships with their families.

Torres left the Seventh-day Adventist church and moved to New York and then to Cincinnati.

“I grew out of it and you know, you go through the period where you’re mad at God and you kind of want to understand why you’re not being loved for who you are, especially from an institution that is as important as a church,” Torres said.

Torres eventually rekindled his relationship with God, but with the religion he grew up in as a small child — Catholicism. He liked that there was a sense of anonymity in the church, where one could go and worship without anybody

Dd

he was shocked. He remained silent for two years, but the lack of religion in the household helped Hernandez rebuild a relationship with his father.

“I’m really close with my father now because he’s not religious,” Hernandez said. “I didn’t have any idea of sin or hell or anything that I sometimes hear.

Nobody punished me. I was so lucky. Mine is a happy story, and I think part of that was because we were not religious.”

When Jan Griesinger first told her father that she liked women, he did not like it.

“When I moved here, I realized the person I wanted to be with was a woman friend,” Griesinger said. “I can’t even remember how much I talked to him about the ‘L’ word, lesbian. Eventually he figured it out. I’m sure I said, ‘this important woman in my life.’ ” Griesinger, originally from Chicago, went to a seminary in Dayton and was later ordained as a minister. She worked at Wright State

knowing who they are.

In Columbus, he found a Catholic men’s support group that was open with gay people, and he led study abroad trips to Yucatan, Mexico, where he connected with a Catholic church.

Within the past 15 years, Torres has found a place in the Catholic church. Although he doesn’t consider himself a perfect Catholic, he attends mass once a week and every year reads the entire Bible.

“I’m comfortable with who I am,” Torres said. “I am happy that I came out when I did. I always tell my story to encourage people to do the same because it does get better. That’s how it goes. You get a lot of opposition at first, you have a lot of fear. But I think everything kind of falls into place. That’s how things happen in life over all.”

Leandro Hernandez, a graduate student studying Spanish, said he never grew up with a religion, but when he when he came out to his

@JESS_HILLYEAH JH240314@OHIO.EDU father,

14 / OCT. 4, 2018

University before she started working as the director of OU’s United Campus Ministry in 1967.

“Part of the good thing was that United Church of Christ had already some openly LGBT pastors,” Griesinger said. “Somebody had come out, maybe as early as 1967, and was kept ordained, kept as a minister. Almost any other denomination wouldn’t have worked.”

As Griesinger’s denomination is within the United Church of Christ, there is no church in Athens connected to it, so she goes to a church in Marietta. But she would often sit in at other churches. Before she retired in 2004, Griesinger’s United Campus Ministry housed the OU Gay and Lesbian Association.

“It helps if they find a church or a community that is supportive. In Athens, I think that you would find several churches, like Presbyterian, Episcopal, First United Methodist,” Griesinger said. “If a person finds either an individual support group or a religious community, they’ll feel a lot more together.”

Torres suggested family is most important, especially if someone who identifies as LGBTQ was rejected by their religious community.

“Don’t believe in that hatred,” Torres said. “You have to come to terms with your family because they are the most important people in your life for the rest of your life. You have to help them understand who you are. If you still find resistance with your family, give it time. Because you are their baby, and they love you no matter what.”

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Stereotypes on Screen Popular TV shows often use stereotypes to portray people in the LGBTQ community JESS UMBARGER ASST. CULTURE EDITOR

a

lthough LGBTQ people have been getting more representative roles on TV shows, the representation often isn’t hitting the mark.

Many of the shows that are praised for having LGBTQ roles are simply using the characters as tropes.

The characters often represent the most stereotypical person in that role.

One of the more problematic shows that misrepresented LGBTQ people was Glee, said delfin bautista, the director of the Ohio University LGBT Center.

“You may think (Glee) raised awareness, especially at a time where representation lacked, especially inclusive, comprehensive representation of LGBT folk, but at

the same time, representing a very limited scope,” bautista, who uses they/them pronouns and the lowercase spelling of their name, said.

The character of Kurt Hummel, played by Chris Colfer, was one of those stereotypical LGBTQ roles. He was written as interested in fashion, was slender and a singer. “(For) folks who don’t fit that mold, where are our stories?” bautista asked.

Joseph Metcalf, a junior studying education, also has issues with the show Glee.

He found the show to be disappointing.

“Glee was kind of disappointing in how they decided to show different sexualities and the different heartaches and experiences that come with having sexually diverse groups of people and people with different gender identities,” Metcalf said.

Metcalf also believes the character of

Unique Adams, played by Alex Newell, was used as a gimmick.

“In a lot of (shows), we find incidental queer characters, just stumbling upon them,” Metcalf said. “It’s just a backseat to the storyline. It’s a fun little trope to use for an episode.”

Glee creator Ryan Murphy did do a good job of pushing things forward, but there were a lot of missed opportunities for critical representation, bautista said.

“You have these tropes that (Murphy) could have challenged, but he lived into them, so dynamics of privilege and dynamics of respectable LGBT-ness was I think played out in Glee,” bautista said.

One of the shows that does a good job is the cartoon Steven Universe; a comingof-age story about a boy who lives with humanoid, magical aliens. The five-time Emmy-nominated show portrays different family structures as well as romantic and platonic relationships. “(Steven Universe) is teaching acceptance and tolerance,” B Irwin, a junior studying women’s, gender and sexuality studies, said. “If we root that idea very young, then it’s not culturally inappropriate.”

The show includes same-sex marriages, non-binary characters and male characters embracing their feminine sides without ridicule. Steven Universe was called “one of the most unabashedly queer shows on TV” in a story by The Guardian.

Last year, the breakout film Love, Simon was highly praised for having the primary narrative be the coming-out of a teenage boy. But the production decisions behind the film didn’t sit well with everyone in the

The Bold Type

This Freeform comedy drama premiered in July 2017 and follows three friends: Jane, Kat and Sutton while they work at a women’s magazine called Scarlet. The show is inspired by the life of former Cosmopolitan Editor-in-Chief Joanna Coles.

In the first season, Kat explores her sexuality and meets a photographer named Adena. As the second seasons rolls on, their relationship grows and becomes more complex. The show has received a lot of praise for bringing in diverse representations of a lesbian relationship through this couple.

LGBTQ community.

“In one of my favorite movies last year, Love, Simon, the main actor of this breakout LGBT film was not gay,” Metcalf said.

Metcalf thought the portrayal of Simon Spier, played by Nick Robinson, was good from an outsider’s perspective.

“I feel like had we come from a perspective of someone who actually experienced this, it would have been a little more genuine,” Metcalf said.

What Metcalf, Irwin and bautista would all like to see in shows is more LGBTQ people being a part of the creative process, as well as playing the roles that are portraying their sexuality and gender. “(Put) queer people on TV and showing that they exist and they are not made up,” Irwin said. “(There are a lot of) movies that are being written for queer people that aren’t written by queer people and not played by queer people.”

TV show viewers should not automatically assume characters are straight, Metcalf said. Viewers shouldn’t automatically assume anything about a character’s sexuality.

“I really want to see more queer actors play queer roles,” Metcalf said.

Allowing LGBTQ people to write their stories as well as produce and act in those stories is something bautista would like to see in the future.

“Include the people who they are trying to portray in the conversation so we aren’t writing these folks as complete outsiders,” bautista said.

@JESS_UMBARGER JU992415@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 15

Some more marginalized than others among varying LGBTQ identities RILEY RUNNELLS FOR THE POST he LGBTQ acronym is an umbrella term that encompasses many different identities, genders and sexualities.

The acronym stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and the “Q” can stand for queer or questioning. LGBTQ individuals have always been a marginalized group as a whole.

However, when looking outside of the acronym, there are individual groups in that umbrella who suffer worse marginalization.

Pansexuality is the romantic or emotional attraction toward people regardless of their gender identity. According to GLAAD, being pansexual means to be essentially gender-blind and can mean searching for a partner with the sole focus of finding love. Often times, the sexuality can be confused with bisexuality because of how the individual is attracted to both men and women. It’s a common misconception because of the fact that pansexuality also is fluid amongst all gender identities.

Carolyn Hunter, a senior studying ceramics, is the outreach coordinator for the LGBT Center at Ohio University and identifies as an LGBTQ individual.

“I identify with bi and pan circles,” Hunter said. “I would say that it’s a lot more fluid to people in the center, but explaining that outwards to a wider community is a lot less understood. Which is why this place exists, to make a space for people who don’t have a space or feel that they are marginalized.”

Skoliosexuality is defined by being primarily sexually, romantically and/or aesthetically attracted to genderqueer, transgender and/or non-binary people.

If someone identifies as skoliosexual, they are explicitly attracted to people who

t

16 / OCT. 4, 2018

From left, freshman Emma Blair, senior Carolyn Hunter and second-year graduate student Jeremy Sierra express their concern about people of color and transgender individuals who feel marginalized or left out in the LGBTQ community.

(NATE SWANSON / FOR THE POST)

identify under the genderqueer umbrella.

Skoliosexuality differs from bisexuality because individuals are not attracted to solely cisgender people, and it differs from pansexuality because individuals are not attracted to all identifications of gender.

Aside from the different identifications, there are even more marginalizations for people of different races and ethnicities who identify as LGBTQ individuals.

Tiffany Anderson, a senior studying women’s, gender and sexuality studies, is the queer people/persons of color outreach coordinator for the LGBT Center and understands the struggle that people of color have to go through in addition to identifying as an LGBTQ individual.

“Being a person of color in the queer community, you have to understand that there are certain standards, and if you

Being a person of color in the queer community, you have to understand that there are certain standards, and if you don’t meet them then there could be a lot of backlash for that.”

-Tiffany Anderson, LGBT Center’s queer people/ persons of color outreach coordinator

don’t meet them then there could be a lot of backlash for that,” Anderson, who uses they/they pronouns, said.

Although the “T” in the acronym stands for transgender, being such still appears to mean being more marginalized than those who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual. According to a recent GLAAD statistic, nearly 90 percent of Americans say they know someone who is lesbian, gay or bisexual. However, only 16 percent of Americans say they know someone who is transgender.

Teagan Rabuano, a former New York University ambassador for GLAAD who uses they/them pronouns, spent their whole college career coming to terms with their identity. Now, as NYU’s graduate outreach and engagement coordinator for LGBTQ Student Center, Rabuano understands firsthand the marginalization of the transgender group.

“For so many years, I had identified as a gay man simply because I didn’t have the language to understand my gender in a more complex and nuanced way,” Rabuano said. “I’m still in a process of transition, and I might always be. I don’t know where I’ll be in a few years, but I’m more focused on being authentic and true to myself in every moment.”

Through Rabuano’s work with NYU’s LGBTQ student center and GLAAD, they are well-equipped in mentoring people who are struggling to come to terms with their sexuality and gender identity.

“To anyone who may be considering coming out,” Rabuano said, “The most important thing is to stay safe and know that even if you can’t live as your full self right now, there is a big, fabulous world out there waiting to greet you with open arms. Keep going, stay strong and always look ahead.”

@RILEYR44 RR855317@OHIO.EDU

Equal rights for lgbtq people in ohio SARAH M. PENIX NEWS EDITOR eople who identify as LGBTQ are not protected by nondiscrimination laws for housing and employment in Ohio. House Bill 160 could change that.

House Bill 160, or the Ohio Fairness Act, seeks to change Ohio’s nondiscrimination laws. These changes include protection of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression along with protection of race, color, religion, sex, age, ancestry, national origin, disability or military status.

Similar acts have circulated Ohio’s legislature for about a decade.

“We’ve already seen a big difference in the time between 2009 and now,” Rep. Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood, said. “When the Obergefell decision came down from the Supreme Court, it gave a legal standing to gay and lesbian families, and I think it also helped further the conversation about members of the LGBTQ community in general.”

As the bill awaits further movement in committee, organizations such as Ohio Business Competes, the Human Rights Campaign and Equality Ohio are working to advocate for the bill through personal testimonies and gathering businesses to support the bill.

Businesses, both small and national, have signed in support of House Bill 160 through Ohio Business Competes, a nonpartisan coalition committed to nondiscrimination policies at the state level.

Additionally, there is an increase in businesses joining the Human Rights Campaign business index each year. That organization has come forward in saying that nondiscrimination policy is good for business, Antonio said.

“Some of these huge national and even international companies, when they’re

P

looking to put down roots in a state, they have made it very clear that they are also looking at places that have these kinds of policies in place,” Antonio said. “It could make a huge difference for who looks at us in Ohio and who just decides that we’re just a drive-over state.”

The bill could mean more people staying in Ohio instead of moving to more progressive states, Antonio said.

“The idea behind civil rights laws is that it means that the government is taking an

When laws like this are passed, they also serve as an educational moment and model, and so it affords the opportunity to talk about what fairness and equality mean.”

-Rep. Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood

active role in leveling the playing field for groups that have been shown to be historically disadvantaged,” Susan Burgess, a distinguished professor of political science at Ohio University, said.

The bill has been endorsed by the Ohio Chamber of Commerce for the first time.

“I know the reason (the Ohio Chamber of Commerce is) supporting it is because

they know that these kinds of policies, if the state takes a stand, it is very good for Ohio’s standing in the rest of the country in terms of advancing business and advancing the economic bottom line in the state of Ohio,” Antonio said.

Because certain areas around the state already have nondiscrimination policies or ordinances, the statewide law would extend those protections everywhere in the state.

“Athens is a bubble in many different ways and has been a safe haven, which is great. (Ohio University) has also been a safe haven for many of us and so just wanting to expand that safe haven and in some ways, burst that bubble so we’re not just limited to being in Athens,” delfin bautista, director of the LGBTQ Center who uses they/them pronouns and the lowercase spelling of their name, said.

For people who are LGBTQ, the passage of the bill would mean greater equality and the ability to live without fear of losing their homes or jobs because of who they are, bautista said.

“When laws like this are passed, they also serve as an educational moment and model, and so it affords the opportunity to talk about what fairness and equality mean,” Antonio said.

In states where such laws have passed, there has not been an upsurge in nondiscrimination cases, Antonio said. More so, they serve as a determinant for people to be discriminated against.

“I think it’ll send a clear message that there’s a lot of groups that have been lifting up ‘all are equal’ needs to mean ‘all are equal,’ and so we say that we are all equal, how are we living into that and how are we not living into that, and if we’re not living into it, how can we better live into it,” bautista said.

The bill is in the government oversight accountability committee.

@SARAHMPENIX SP936115@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 17

How appalachian regions are helping the LGBTQ community IAN MCKENZIE FOR THE POST In rural areas like Appalachia, there aren’t as many resources for minorities. Ohio University’s LGBT Center is one of the few places in Appalachia that offers these resources.

Different universities and community areas around Appalachia have developed LGBTQ centers to help the more rural areas. These include West Virginia University’s LGBTQ+ Center, Appalachian State’s Henderson Springs LGBT Center and the Appalachian Community Fund.

WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY LGBTQ+ CENTER The LGBTQ+ Center in Morgantown, West Virginia, provides different resources, such as advocacy, education, programming and social events, Cris Mayo, director of the LGBTQ+ Center, said in an email.

The facility provides resources to students and staff, faculty and community members. Mayo explained that the center provides programming for Appalachian and rural LGBTQ issues.

West Virginia University offers a minor in LGBTQ studies through the LGBTQ+ Center.

Mayo even said the LGBTQ+ Center is looking into scholarships it could offer.

“We have student assistantships and are working on scholarships, those will probably start next year (and include allies),” Mayo said.

While the center is related to the university, people not affiliated with the school 18 / OCT. 4, 2018

are able to use it, according to West Virginia University. There are different assets provided by the center that allow high school students, teachers and residents to learn about the LGBTQ community. Mayo even said the center has training to help residents learn about the LGBTQ community.

For the students that are graduating, the LGBT Center hosts a lavender graduation. This is a separate graduation ceremony where students of the LGBTQ community are able to express themselves because they might not have come out to their parents and family yet, Reeves said.

APPALACHIAN STATE HENDERSON SPRINGS LGBT CENTER In Boone, North Carolina, the Henderson Springs LGBT Center is designed for students and staff, faculty and community members, Jake Reeves, a graduate assistant working for the center, said. Since there are no other centers in Boone, the center has opened the space for all people of the community.

Reeves said that in the beginning of the Fall Semester, there are educational programming opportunities, such as scholarships, and several different clubs that work with the center to make the environment feel safe and welcoming.

The LGBT Center even hosts “LGBT 101” events to inform residents in the area about how to respect the LGBTQ community. The LGBT Center also provides a drag show for both amateurs and professionals.

There is one show per semester. The professionals’ show is in the Spring Semester, and the Fall Semester is reserved for the amateurs’ show.

In the Fall Semester, the LGBT Center hosts a coming out day for those who live in Appalachia, Reeves said. One part of the coming out day includes providing new clothes for any student who is in transition.

APPALACHIAN COMMUNITY FUND Since it started supporting the LGBTQ community in 2006, the Appalachian Community Fund has provided grants for LGBTQ organizations.

Most grant recipients specifically requested money for one-time events, such as pride celebrations, gatherings, and religious or educational events, Kendall Bilbrey, the project director for Out in the South: Central Appalachia, said in an email.

There have been 16 grants awarded to 12 different organizations in Virginia, Tennessee, West Virginia and Kentucky.

The fund specifically grants money to groups that are nonprofit or have an agent who can receive and distribute funds to the appropriate programming, Bilbrey said in an email.

The LGBTQ Fund is a part of the Appalachian Community Fund, an organization that grants money to nonprofit organizations.

The organizations that have been given the money have used it in more urban areas because there are not as many LGBTQ centers in rural areas. This allows more people to attend the events. Bilbrey said some of the community drove as far as four hours to attend the event.

Rural LGBTQ Resources West Virginia University LGBTQ+ Center

- Location: Morgantown, West Virginia - Social events - Scholarships - WVU minor in LGBTQ studies

Appalachian State Henderson Springs LGBT Center - Location: Boone, North Carolina - Educational programming - Clubs - LGBT 101 - Scholarships

Appalachian Community Fund - Location: Knoxville, Tennessee - Grants for LGBTQ organizations

“Through the LGBTQ Fund’s outreach program called Out in the South: Central Appalachia Project, we hosted six events and five of which were in rural areas of (Tennessee), (Kentucky) and (Virginia),” Bilbrey said in an email.

@IANMCK9 IM581017@OHIO.EDU

OU faculty and staff celebrate LGBTQ pride HARDIKA SINGH FOR THE POST espite receiving eyerolls, Catherine Russell still brings up LGBTQ issues to people in her workplace because she thinks those issues are crucial for progress.

Ten staff members at Ohio University openly identify as LGBTQ, according to OU’s LGBT Center.

Russell, a human resources liaison, graduated from OU with a degree in organizational communications in 2013. She comes from a predominantly conservative family and identifies as a pansexual, Hispanic, Latina and cisgender woman.

Russell came out as bisexual during her senior year of high school because she did not know the terminology to describe her sexual orientation. She first knew she was bisexual when she realized she had feelings for people of different genders.

As a student at OU, she didn’t spend much time at the LGBT Center or Women’s Center because she was a commuter who worked 40 hours every week. She first heard about the two centers from the Campus Involvement Center, and she now frequents both as an OU staff member. It was an eye-opening moment for her when she first heard the word “pansexual.”

Russell said people often question her identity as a member of LGBTQ community because she married a cisgender

D

man she met in college.

On the day of her wedding, her close friend, who identifies as queer and nonbinary, said, “Aren’t you so happy that you don’t have to deal with this anymore because now you are straight?”

The comment left Russell upset.

“Identity is not just this temporary status bound by time and situation, but it really can be long-lasting and permanent,” she said.

Russell said she has privilege despite her intersectionalities because she looks like a white woman. However, she also said looks can be deceiving. Due to her white appearance, she feels like she does not belong in Latinx and other Hispanic events.

“I don’t look like the way I identify,” Russell said.

As a member of the OHIO Search Committee, Russell looks at retention rates from the perspectives of diversity and inclusion. The committee is also working toward removing gendered pronouns from staff positions — a move that has been met with some opposition.

“It takes people in positions of power and privilege supporting that,” she said.

Russell likes to surround herself with people who identify as LGBTQ and who are supportive, rather than people who reassess her after she tells them she identifies as a pansexual Latina.

Dale Masel, department chair of industrial and systems engineering, however, has had a different experience. He said he has

Catherine Russell poses for a portrait outside of the Human Resources and Training Center.

(ELLIE PONTONES / FOR THE POST)

Identity is not just this temporary status bound by time and situation, but it really can be long-lasting and permanent.”

- Catherine Russell, human resources liasion

not experienced microaggressions when he tells people he identifies as gay.

Masel first knew he was gay in high school. He initially thought it was a phase but accepted his identity in his junior year of college.

He later came out while he was a graduate student at Penn State in 1994. It was a stressful event for him, as he feared his identity would be judged back home.

As a professor, Masel thinks OU does a lot to support a vast majority of LGBTQ people. However, he thinks there are a lot more staff members at OU who openly identify as LGBTQ but are unknown to the LGBT Center because they choose to not disclose personal information.

“People are private,” Masel said.

Charlotte Connolly, a junior studying geography, said she knows many students on campus who identify as LGBTQ but doesn’t know many employees

who identify as such.

She said staff and faculty members may choose to not come out because they are afraid of being judged by their colleagues and students.

“People would look at them differently from what they did previously,” Connolly said.

Russell said she still encounters microaggressions on some days but is impressed that OU tries to build an inclusive environment for everyone. She said that people who make hateful and homophobic comments have not necessarily changed over the years. The society, however, does react to it differently now.

“There is still work to be done,” she said. “There is a lot of work to be done.”

@HARDIKASINGH28 HS152416@OHIO.EDU

THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 19

LGBTQ Student Senate member receives death threat BAILEY GALLION INVESTIGATIVE EDITOR n LGBTQ Ohio University Student Senate member has received a death threat, and Student Senate leadership believes the threat likely came from another senate member.

Anna Ayers, commissioner of the Senate Appropriations Commission, found two notes in the drawer of her desk in the Student Senate office. On Sept. 27, she found a “hateful, harassing” note referencing her LGBTQ identity and calling her a derogatory term. On Monday, Ayers found another note in her desk that included a threat against her life.

The note likely came from someone within Student Senate, Student Senate President Maddie Sloat said. Anyone can enter the senate office, but whoever left the note had to know which desk belonged to Ayers, who is a member of The Post Publishing Board.

Student Senate is not releasing the specific wording of the notes to protect the integrity of an ongoing OU Police Department investigation, Ayers said.

Student Senate postponed all scheduled events, including a presentation from Athens Mayor Steve Patterson, to discuss the threats at its Wednesday meeting. Student Senate members listened to Ayers speak and discussed experiences of harassment on campus. Dean of Students Jenny Hall-Jones moderated the discussion, and a counselor from Counseling and Psychological Services was present.

OU President Duane Nellis did not attend the meeting. Hall-Jones said Nellis had been in contact with Ayers and Sloat, and Hall-Jones read a statement from him condemning the notes.

Ayers said she spent the weekend “angry, frustrated and disappointed” after finding the first note. She had to call her parents to explain the incident to them.

After finding the death threat Monday, she spent hours with the threat “ringing over and over again in (her) head.”

As much as she struggled to deal with the content of the notes, she said it was harder to comprehend that they may have come from someone within Student Senate.

“Senate will never be the same for me,” Ayers said. “The friendships will continue to grow, and our successes will always evoke pride, but the memory of my time

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20 / OCT. 4, 2018

Senate will never be the same for me. The friendships will continue to grow, and our successes will always evoke pride, but the memory of my time in senate and at OU will be marred by this experience. We will all have a memory of a time when this body failed one of its own.”

-Anna Ayers, commissioner of the Senate Appropriations Commission

in senate and at OU will be marred by this experience. We will all have a memory of a time when this body failed one of its own.”

Ayers also addressed the writer of the note directly, saying she hoped that person was in the room. She called that person weak, cowardly and worthless.

“You may find me revolting and worthy of a threat on my life, but in reality, it is your beliefs that are repulsive,” Ayers said.

“You need to get this through your head, you f---ing a--hole: I am proud to be who I am, and nothing you could say or do will ever change that.”

Hall-Jones said the locks on the Student Senate doors have been changed.

Student Senate members will have the ability to swipe into the office using their student IDs, and Student Senate will establish new office hours.

The incidents left Hall-Jones with an “overwhelming sense of disappointment.”

“People asked me, ‘What have you done in the past when this happened?’ And I’m like, ‘I can’t remember anything like that happening before,’ ” she said. “Basically, I didn’t have an answer, but we have to figure this out together.”

It’s unlikely that OUPD will be able to determine who left the notes, Hall-Jones

Anna Ayers, commissioner of the Senate Appropriations Commission, pauses to exhale while sharing her experience about receiving threatening messages.

(BLAKE NISSEN / PHOTO EDITOR)

said. Though she and senate leadership believe the notes came from a member of the senate or someone close to senate members, the office is an open space. Anyone could have left the note.

“I don’t know if we will ever have a sense of justice,” Hall-Jones said. “We will have to be honest with ourselves about that and determine what we will have to do to find that sense of justice.”

Student Senate broke into group discussions. Tables of senate members shared past experiences and searched for ways to move forward. Ayers walked around the room and exchanged hugs with senate members.

Several Student Senate members said they were shocked the threat had happened on a campus they had long considered safe and accepting. Others said it was important to remember hate exists everywhere.

The discussion brought up several potential solutions, some institutional and some personal. Some members said diversity events might not be as effective as intended because the students who attend tend to already have an understanding of social justice. Student Senate members also brought up the possibility of cultural competency courses, which the body has

discussed in recent years.

Hall-Jones and Student Senate members also discussed the importance of standing up to injustices, holding friends accountable and examining personal biases.

Sloat said the meeting was productive, but it was only a beginning. She will continue to try to determine the identity of whoever made the threats, and the staff will receive additional training.

“There’s only so much we can do (right now),” Sloat said. “This feels like such a small Band-Aid type of fix. ... It’s not a solution. I consider this the start of a very long conversation.”

Ayers said she hopes members of Student Senate learn to hold each other accountable, even when it feels uncomfortable. She also said the threat isn’t reflective of Student Senate or OU at large.

“I could have quit senate Friday after the first note,” she said. “I mean, nobody would have said I didn’t have the right to do that. But it never crossed my mind.”

@BAILEYGALLION BG272614@OHIO.EDU

Students will be coming to college/ university with additional levels of stress… will folks become more hesitant to share their journeys as well as possibly becoming even more reluctant to share incidents of harassment/violence due to fear of being outed? It’s a slippery slope.”

- delfin bautista, director of the LGBT Center

Potential effects of House Bill 658 MEGAN CARLSON FOR THE POST ouse Bill 658, or the Parent’s Rights Bill, could potentially affect LGBTQ minors.

According to the bill, government agents or entities that work with minors would have to out them to their parents or legal guardians, without their consent, if the minor showed signs of gender dysphoria. The bill was proposed by Republican Reps. Tom Brinkman and Paul Zeltwanger.

It would make providing gender dysphoria treatment without consent from each parent or guardian a fourth-degree felony. Treatments for gender dysphoria range from counseling to surgery.

The bill would also keep courts from making custody decisions based on parents’ refusal of gender-based medical treatment.

The Parent’s Rights Bill is said to focus on the parental rights in the situation, but it fails to mention the dangers that the child may face if their families are unaccepting.

Hh

“The reality of this bill is that it has the potential of doing more harm to trans youth and placing them in risky situations such as being kicked out of their homes, being forced into conversion therapies to cure them of their ‘illness’ and creates an environment where young people will become more scared to share their truth,” delfin bautista, the director of the Ohio University LGBT Center, said in an email. bautista, who uses they/them pronouns and the lowercase spelling of their name, said research and anecdotal experience reflects that LGBTQ youth are three to four times more likely to attempt or die by suicide. The rates for transgender youth are four to five times higher.

The bill also puts adults who are in charge of the children in a position they may not be comfortable or willing to be in and could cause problems with youth in the future.

“Students will be coming to college/university with additional levels of stress… will folks become more hesitant to share their journeys as well as possibly becoming even more reluctant to share incidents of harass-

ment/violence due to fear of being outed?

It’s a slippery slope,” bautista said in an email. bautista said OU also works with the community, especially high schools in the area, and run the risk of further isolating individuals in an area were LGBTQ-inclusive resources are limited.

Maggie Mcmanus, a freshman studying psychology, said she identifies as an ally for transgender people.

“Schools have no right to be in the personal business of students,” Mcmanus said.

Mcmanus said people need to vote and not just say they’re going to fight this bill without actually doing anything.

While people are worried about the dangers this could cause for transgender youth, those who have already experienced coming out for themselves are even more worried. They know what it’s like to come out to friends and family and don’t want other people to be forced into it.

Ariel Keener, a freshman studying sociology, came out to friends and family late last year. She said the main issue with forcing a child to come out is that it can be an ex-

tremely emotionally taxing process.

“A trans individual isn’t likely to (die by) suicide after they’ve been out for years and have medically transitioned,” Keener said.

“They’re going to try when they come out and everyone has their eyes on them. Not to mention it’s a shock when the family finds out from another source.”

OU’s Student Senate recently passed a bill condemning House Bill 658, according to a previous Post report. Members of Student Senate felt the bill was a violation of rights and highly discriminatory toward LGBTQ — specifically transgender ­— students.

During the debate for condemning the bill, Student Senate members discussed why this issue is important to students, especially the LGBTQ students at OU. Members said it is important that all students of the university feel accepted as who they are as a person and have treatment services available to them.

House Bill 658 is scheduled to go before legislatures in the fall.

@MEGCHRIISTINE MC199517@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 21

lgbt center events KERI JOHNSON FOR THE POST

Gooden, the creator of the hashtag, #whyistayed will be talking about victims’ rights. Admission: Free

Ohio University’s LGBT Center hosts dozens of events throughout the year. Here’s some of what’s planned for the rest of 2018:

LGBT History Month Speaker Stephanie Skora on Oct. 31. Stephanie

Skora is a transgender woman, lesbian and Jewish activist whose work focuses on Palestinian solidarity and fighting for human rights. Time and location to be determined. Admission: Free

OCTOBER National Coming Out Day at 10 a.m.

on Oct. 11. The celebration of being out and proud will be held on the fourth floor of Baker Center.

The event will include selfie opportunities to form a collage that will be featured in the center. Admission: Free Coming-Out Monologues at 7 p.m.

on Oct. 11. The event is a coming-out take on The Vagina Monologues.

People are to share monologues and original pieces of music, poetry and art. Admission: Free Queer Hollywood-Latinx Identities

at 6 p.m. at the LGBT Center on Oct. 17. The center will be hosting their second installment of Queer Hollywood where it will look at different identities, focusing on Latinx identities for this installment.

Admission: Free International Pronoun Day at 10 a.m. on Oct. 17 on the fourth floor of Baker Center. Similar to National Coming Out Day, International Pronoun Day will be a celebration and exercise in pride with photo-sharing opportunities. Admission: Free 22 / OCT. 4, 2018

NOVEMBER Screening of The Voiceless at 7 p.m.

delfin bautista, the director of Ohio University’s LGBT Center, gives an opening monologue during the National Coming Out Day Rally on Oct. 9, 2016, in the Bobcat Lounge in Baker Center. (FILE)

Dine-n-Discuss LGBTness Then and Now at noon on Oct. 19. The Dine-

n-Discuss is in honor of the 20th anniversary of the LGBT center and includes a free lunch. The event also has a discussion of the history of Ohio University’s LGBT Center and will include past coordinators of the center. Admission: Free Crafternoon-Happy

Homocoming

at 2 p.m. in the LGBT Center on Oct. 19. The center will be making posters among other crafts to show during the Homecoming Parade. Supplies will be provided.

Admission: Free Happy Homocoming Drag Extravagaynza! at 8 p.m. on Oct. 19 in

Baker Center. The drag show coincides with Homecoming week and celebrates drag in Athens.

Alumni are set to return and perform. Donations are encouraged to raise money for the LGBT emergency fund. Admission: Free All in the Family at 3 p.m. in the

LGBT Center on Oct. 25. The theme for this event is about what people wear and how to respond to body shaming as well as unhealthy family dynamics around food, exercise and appearance. Admission: Free

on Nov. 1 at The Athena Cinema, 20 S. Court St., The Voiceless is a film featuring the stories of five male sexual assault survivors. Following the film, there will be a discussion.

Admission: Free Rainbow Dance at 9:30 p.m on Nov.

10 at Casa Nueva, 6. W State St., The LGBT-themed dance will feature DJ Logan Savage. Proceeds will go to Southeastern Ohio Rainbow Alliance. Admission: $5 National Trans Day of Remembrance and Resistance Vigil at 8 p.m. on

Nov. 15 at Galbreath Chapel. The vigil will be held in remembrance of transgender people who have died and honor the strength of the transgender community looking forward. Admission: Free

Love Yourself Week Keynote Featuring Beverly Gooden at 7 p.m.

at Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium on Oct. 25.

@_KERIJOHNSON KJ153517@OHIO.EDU

WHAT’S GOING ON?

Second Annual Oktoberfest Celebration at 4 p.m. at Little Fish Brew-

ing Company, 8675 Armitage Road. The brewery has plenty of German-inspired fun planned, including traditional food, beer, music and a stein holding competition. Admission: Free

ALEXIS EICHELBERGER CULTURE EDITOR

Bat House, Speaking Suns, Crooked Spines and Caitlin Kraus at 9 p.m.

FRIDAY

at The Union Bar and Grill, 18 W. Union St. Dance to dream pop and blended punk by a group of artists from Ohio and beyond.

Admission: $5

Ask the Experts: Mike Galbraith of Columbus Clay at 5:30 p.m. at the

Dairy Barn Arts Center, 8000 Dairy Lane. Galbraith will offer advice on a range of topics for ceramics enthusiasts including kiln repair, glazes, equipment and more. Admission: Free Field of Screams at 7:30 p.m. at Murphy’s Farm, 28364 Osborne Road, Coolville. Try not to get too scared during the 2-mile journey through a haunted forest and corn maze.

A DJ and food vendor will also be on-site. Admission: $10 Organist Christopher Houlihan in Concert at 7:30 p.m. at Christ Luther-

an Church, 69 Mill St. The renowned organist will play works by Bach and Schumann, as well as some modern composers. Admission: Free

SATURDAY The Plains Indian Mound Festival

begins at 8 a.m. at the Plains Community Park, 65 Connett Road, The Plains. Enjoy the weekend-long festival hosted by the Plains Lions Club; which fill feature, food, live entertainment and plenty of fall activities. Admission: Free Awesome Autumn Open House at noon at White’s Mill, 2 White’s Mill Drive. Enjoy live music, a cooking demo, local beer tasting and more at the iconic riverside spot.

Admission: Free

SUNDAY Sunday Funday at 3 p.m. at Jackie

O’s Taproom, 25 Campbell St. Get the first look at the venue’s latest art exhibit and enjoy live music at the monthly celebration. Admission: Free PANdemonium4 at 4 p.m. in Glidden Hall. The quartet of flute-playing women will visit Ohio University for a chamber music performance. The day will also feature several other artists.

Admission: Free Contra Dance at 6:30 p.m. at ARTS/ West, 132 W. State St. The monthly session will teach you to folk dance to live oldtime fiddle music, no matter your age or skill level. Admission: Suggested donation of $10; $3 for students, free for children 10 and under.

MOVIE TIMES & BAR DEALS The Athena Cinema movie times BlacKkKlansman (rated R): Friday, 9:30 p.m.; Saturday, 2:35 and 9:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2:35 and 9:30 p.m.

Blaze (rated R): Friday, 5:10, 7:15 and 9:40 p.m.: Saturday, 5:10, 7:15 and 9:40 p.m.: Sunday, 5:10, 7:15 and 9:40 p.m.

Bartender Joshua Novak fills a glass with beer at Jackie O’s Pub and Brewery.

(BLAKE NISSEN / PHOTO EDITOR)

Fahrenheit 11/ (rated R): Friday, 5, 7:25 and 9:45 p.m.; Saturday, 5, 7:25 and 9:45 p.m.; Sunday, 5, 7:25 and 9:45 p.m.

The Wife (rated R): Friday, 5:05 and 7:35 p.m.; Saturday, 2:50, 5:05 and 7:35 p.m.; Sunday, 2:50, 5:05 and 7:35 p.m.

Bar deals in Athens Broney’s Alumni Grill: $2 draft pints, $3 Bloody Marys.

Cat’s Corner: Sunday “beat the clock,” 2-8 p.m.: beer pitchers start at $2 and go up a dollar every hour; happy hour, 3-6 p.m.: two for $4 beer, $4 wine and $3 double well liquor.

Cat’s Eye Saloon: Happy hour weekdays 4-9 p.m.; Friday: PBR glasses start at 40 cents, 5-cent increase every half-hour, $4.50 pitchers from 3-9 p.m.

The J Bar: Sunday: $3 shots of Jameson, Jack Daniels and Rumple; $2 Arnold Palmer drinks.

Lucky’s Sports Tavern: Happy hour on weekdays, 4 to 9 p.m.:

$1 domestic short drafts, $1.75 domestic bottles, $1.75 mixed drinks.

The Over Hang: Friday: $3 F-bomb; Sunday: $1.50 well rum drinks, $4 domestic beer pitcher.

The Pigskin Bar and Grille: Happy hour 7-9 p.m.: $2 domestic beer, $2 well liquor.

The Pub: $5 domestic beer aquarium; $12 rainbow shots (8 shots in total).

Red Brick Tavern: ‘Brick Break’ daily, 6 to 9 p.m.: $5 domestic buckets, $1 well rum, $2 well Monster, $3 specialty Monster.

Smiling Skull Saloon: Happy hour, Fridays, 5-7 p.m.: $2 beer; 50 cents off import beer on Sundays.

Tony’s Tavern: Sunday: $1.25 PBR and High Life, $1.75 Hot Nuts.

The Union Bar & Grill: Happy hour, 3-8 p.m. daily: 50 cents off all drinks and beers; Sundays: $3 margaritas and Bloody Marys. @ADEICHELBERGER AE595714@OHIO.EDU THEPOSTATHENS.COM / 23

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017

THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2017

Virtual healing

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2017

The MAC’s rising star

DEFENDER THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2017

OF THE TURF

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017

Claire Buckey claims her territory on Pruitt Field despite recurring health problems P12

Free speech policy causes concerns P11 Cover: Medical field utilizes VR P12 Embracing local agriculture P20

ANOTHER REMEDY

President

Duane Nellis

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Breaking down OU’s budget P12

MORE AND MORE WOMEN ARE CHOOSING TO TREAT MEDICAL CONDITIONS WITH ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE INSTEAD OF DOCTORS VISITS PAGES 20-21

After a nearly yearlong nationwide search, Duane Nellis took office as Ohio University’s 21st president on June 12.

Now, Nellis reflects on his past and shares hopes for the future.

Safety Javon Hagan’s new role P16 Exploring the world of animation P20

Comparing expression policies P9

A sit-down with the president P12

Nellis in college P10

Sustainable volunteering P20

Hockey’s second-year starter P14

Effects of marijuana depenalization 9

OU Southern’s equine program 12

Volleyball setter’s move from Italy 18

Nellis’ previous employment P20

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2017 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2017

GRASS-ROOTS

ELECTIONS

L I F E S T Y L E Mamerto Tindongan finds life more valuable with less P20

DECK CAN GO HERE FOR A HALLOWEEN-RELATED STORY YAY BOO MWAHAHAHAHAH

Evaluating Trump’s presidency P8 TACO exceeds majority vote P15

PAGES 16-21

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DECISIONS FOR ATHENS Hispanic students balance college P20

Pumpkin’s rise to Athens celebrity P12 Setting up haunted houses P16

Looking for an enriching college experience centered around teamwork and creativity?

Quilt empowers sexual assault survivors P19

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2018

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2018

Foundation of The Post hasThe been serving Ohio University OHIO HOCKEY and the Athens area for more than 100 years, and we’re always hiring.

Baker 70: one year later

How Bill Gurnick put the Bobcats on the map P20

P12

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Faculty diversity rises slowly P8 Photo story: MLK March P12

w

Closing the gender gap in STEM 11

COVER: Ohio’s next big investment 12

NEWS SPORTS CULTURE OPINION BLOGS MULTIMEDIA VISUALS PROJECTS Basketball’s star center P18

Dave Jamerson’s journey to God 20

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018

Healing the scars

P 11

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T H W B H E Post-grad possibilities P10

CONTACT EDITOR@THEPOSTATHENS.COM

E Y I L L E A R D

A love for cult classics P20

Sibs Weekend events P22

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018

Pipe bursts in residence hall P8

It’s Women’s History Month. ‘The Post’ compiled a collection of stories to celebrate women in Athens and Ohio University.

Cultural problems with ‘Friends’ P19

Hockey works on power plays P21 Businesses in action P10

THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 2018

UNEARTHING A SECRET

She walks

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2018

by faith P12

The story behind a patch of farmland, a man and his reputation P12

THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2018 THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2018

FOOD ISSUE

UNCERTAIN FREEDOMS P14

ATHENS CULTIVATES RESTAURANTS AND DISHES THAT STUDENTS AND LOCALS HAVE COME TO KNOW AND LOVE. THIS ISSUE IS DEDICATED TO THOSE FAMILIAR FLAVORS.

The turnover rate of businesses P9

One team, one video game P19

Caligraphy in the digital age P20

Brunch life in Athens P6 Carriage Hill one year later P9

Donkey’s most regular regular P19

From junior college to Ohio P20

Athletes’ diets in season P17

Cover story: family kitchens P18 Updates on Union explosion P9

Land of opportunity P12

A dazzling history P20

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2018

Fridging in comic book culture P18

REFLECTING ON THE YEAR Take a look at the different faces, places and events that highlighted the 2017-18 academic year through the lens of ‘Post’ photographers