Hello Everyone!

It has been 2 weeks since we finished training in New York City, and I miss everyone already! I definitely benefitted a lot from connecting with like-minded people, and it gave me many ideas to promote justice in my community. Before I get into that though, I should probably introduce myself. My name is MarySue, and I'm currently a senior at a predominantly conservative Christian university in Mississippi. Our school handbook states,

"Sexual Impropriety: Sexual impropriety includes but is not limited to participation in or appearance of engaging in premarital sex, extramarital sex, or homosexual activities."

There is no clarification of what exactly the administration deems ‘homosexual activities’, and there has been no effort (despite requests) to clarify this statement. There are no particular sanctions listed, but instead refers students to the disciplinary actions section of the handbook, which lists everything from a warning to expulsion from the school and dorms. There is a lot of gray area with this policy, and the school offers no protection for LGBTQ students on campus. If a student is being harassed because they identify as LGBTQ, they cannot report it because by doing so they would be outting theirself the school administration, putting themselves in jeopardy. Myself and two other students saw a strong need to create a "safe space" for LGBTQ students and allies, so in October of 2008 (after an Equality Ride visit) we founded our queer-straight alliance. We are not allowed to meet on campus, but are hosted by a wonderful community member (and alum!) and his wife who let us take over their kitchen and living room quite often to have meetings and fellowship with one another. It is pretty amazing!

It is my desire to see the school’s policy eventually overturned, but I’m not naïve enough to think that it will happen overnight.  My immediate goal is to help create a safer atmosphere on campus by engaging in dialogue with other students on campus about the issues LGBTQ students face as well as continuing to foster safe community within our QSA.  I am also actively seeking out support within the faculty and am brainstorming ways to educate them about using safe (or safer) language within their classrooms without simultaneously demanding them to change their personal beliefs--little steps at a time! I’m really looking forward to the end of March when the Equality Ride will return, I think this year is going to look a lot different than previous years--but I’ll let you know more about that as details get worked out.

This semester is going to be exciting, change is acomin’! Your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated!

Peace & Jesus,
MarySue