Posted on 06/21/2013 5:17:15 AM PDT by matt04
A Long Island City college is grappling with a straightforward question: Should a gay pride symbol hang with scores of national banners in the school’s Hall of Flags?
Supporters at CUNY LaGuardia Community College said hoisting the rainbow flag would show support for the school’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
But opponents said the gay pride beacon — which represents a lifestyle, not a nation — has no place hanging alongside flags from more than 100 countries.
“If it’s going to help our students, why not fly it?” asked education professor Richard Henry, who has been leading the charge. “It’s our hall, it’s our flags. Why quibble over whether it’s a nation?”
Henry suggested mounting the banner earlier this month after professors began placing notices on their doors declaring their offices as safe zones for LGBT students.
The flags of the world were a gift from the United Nations “to celebrate LaGuardia’s diversity,” according to the school’s website.
School spokesman Randy Fader-Smith said the decision “will rest with a committee comprised of faculty, staff and students ... at the beginning of the school year.”
One professor, who asked to remain anonymous, knows where he stands already: The flag must not be unfurled beyond the glass case on the side where it currently resides.
...
Flying the flag is about more than symbolism. LGBT students report higher rates of harassment and discrimination, said Jess McDonald, a spokeswoman for Campus Pride.
Almost a quarter of LGBT college staff and students reported being harassed, according to a 2010 report issued by the group. More than 43% reported fearing for their physical safety.
“Simple things like rainbow flags can be powerful,” McDonald said. “It really makes it feel like a safer space.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...
Maybe a "this is a gay friendly campus" would keep them safe fro the non-existent physical threats?
I think there's a typo in the headline, an extra "L" in "Flags."
Gay this, gay that, i am sick of it. They should just live their lives and get the hell out of the limelight.
Oh yes, NSA, come and get me, PUNKS!
There’s that word again “diversity” so as to make you feel they are higher up on the ladder of intelligence and you are racist bigoted and so stupidy ignorant if you disagree. Arrogance and acedemia go hand in hand. Because you have a crayon box with all the colors intacked doesnt mean you can create a masterpeice on canvas. Character not color makes a masterpiece.
My first girlfriend was from Brazil and she went on to LaGuardia Community College where she married a divorced professor who was teaching her class.
Anyone remember the good old days when queers stayed in the closet and did their queer business on the side?
Know what would fong all of this up? Straight Pride Flag. And White History Month. And white, middle class, Judeo Christian male day. And Unplanned Parenthood. And for school kids, clasp your hands and look up at the ceiling every morning.
Throw it right back in their faces. Preemptive lawsuits. The works.
Freaking drama queens deserve a beating, not a flag. And not because they are gay, but because they are obnoxious about it.
Put it right beside the Straight Pride flag.
Wait, there isn’t one of those?
Does NAMBLA have a flag?
Come on, a school named after “the little flower” mayor want to fly a fag flag in its hall of nations flag. I wonder if they would be so quick to fly the Gadsden Flag too?
LOL at Unplanned Parenthood!
National flags. The Gay Nation...which, unable to reproduce, would be a complete and total failure after one generation.
Almost a quarter of LGBT college staff and students reported being harassed, according to a 2010 report issued by the group. More than 43% reported fearing for their physical safety.
Wow, 43% sounds like there's a lot of harassment going on , doesn't it?
Actually, the way I'm reading this is that 43% of the 25% of LGBT students and staff which would mean that 11% of the LGBT student and staff are fearing for their personal safety. See, that number is much small, is it not?
The next question is, what is the size of the population of LGBT at the college? A quick search for stats turned up the following:
17,569 Students Enrolled
11,31 full time faculty
502 staff
--------
19, 202 Total population
Now, out of the total population of individuals at the college, let's estimate the total number of LGBT individuals
From US census data
3.5% Identify themselves as LGB
0.3% Identify as Transgendered
----
3.8 % of total population of the US are LGBT
Now, let's assume we can apply this to the college population (which may or may not be accurate, but let's run with it)
19,202 * .038 = 730 Individuals in the college population who are LGBT
Now, let's apply the statistics from this article
730 * .25 = 182.5 LGBT people who report being harassed
730 * .11 = 80 LGBT who fear for their personal safety
Or
80 / 19202 = .004 % of the total population at the college fears for their personal safety.
Now, that still may sound like a lot of people, but we would still have to look at several other things. For example, a 2006 study shows that 62% of all female college students report being sexually harassed. So, our data would indicate that LBGT are LESS likely to be harassed than the average female college student.
More importantly, how is harassment being operationalized? Is it a direct comment to the individual, or something overheard that made the individual fee uncomfortable, or is it statement made by an instructor?
Anyway, I could go on, but I'll shut up now. Remember, lies, damn lies, and statistics :-)
Also, to many on the left, harassment means disagreeing with them.
I do. Not anymore. It’s getting to the point now they’ll come in your house, stand on your dinner table, and thrust their crotch at you while you and your family try to eat. Stopping them would be intolerant. Enjoy your dinner!
Exactly!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.