Peck: Pride Flags Make Student Body Uncomfortable (And They Should)

Jackson Peck ’22

As a member of the Saint Anselm community or as a recent visitor to the school, you may have noticed small pride flags planted around campus, waving in the wind, standing strong in the shadow of Alumni Hall. You may have also noticed that the next day on your walk to class that that same flag, once so firm in its convictions, has been removed. It is no mistake that these flags have been disappearing.

The flags were planted anonymously, coinciding with the national Transgender Day of Remembrance, and caught the attention of nearly every passer-by. Some students were upset by the flag, some were uncomfortable, and for identifying students some took them as a sign – ‘You are not alone.’

Saint Anselm College is a Catholic institution with a majority conservative student body, and these flags were planted to force conversations and increase visibility for LGBTQ students on campus. If these flags in any way made students uncomfortable then the mission was accomplished; we should live in a world where someone’s ability to love who they love is not discriminated against. The discomfort stemming from this silent demonstration is a testimony to the need for these flags. The flags are extremely important, not only because it shows that there is an LGBTQ presence on campus and supports members of the community, but because people are constantly taking them down which simply highlights the need for more visibility on campus and more discussions about issues facing the community.

A recent article printed in the Saint Anselm Crier – the official school paper – stated, among many things, “Gay pride flags represent a movement that promotes a form of sexual promiscuity” as well as “the college does not endorse the ideology in question.” The article has sparked debates, and only further encouraged advocates for LGBTQ visibility on campus; however, there are still many individuals who decide to ignore this issue, who do not partake in the discussion for fear of discomfort. Ignorance and inaction are in some cases just as wrong as open discrimination.

As people, we all strive to be accorded the same rights and privileges. We fight for human rights, we oppose those who deny such rights to others, and yet we do not recognize our own injustices – we instead accept them as demonstrations of free speech. The preamble to the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights states “recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world.” Members of the LGBTQ community were given the freedom to marry in 2015, but the struggle for justice and equality still rages on, and only once there is justice can there be peace.

LGBTQ Community Responds to Flag Controversy

The December 7, 2018 issue of the Saint Anselm Crier included a controversial opinion piece by Maria Benitz ’19 entitled, “In defense of flag removal.” Last week, a handful of small LGBTQ and Trans-gender flags appeared across campus, near walkways and on other green areas on campus. It is unclear who put the flags in the ground. But, within a few days of the flags appearing, they were gone. The removal of the flags has caused some controversy across campus but many students were not aware that they had been removed intentionally or maliciously.

In her letter, Benitz defended the removal of the flags. She wrote that the flags were not approved by the College’s Student Engagement and Leadership office and that, therefore, the flags should have been removed. It is not clear that the flags were not approved by SEAL or the Dean of Students’ Office but, if they were not, then it would have been proper for the appropriate authorities to remove the flags.

It is the second portion of Benitz’s letter that has caused the controversy. Benitz wrote, “Gay pride flags represent a movement that promotes a form of sexual promiscuity contrary to the virtue of chastity” promoted by the Catholic Church. She continued, “The Church cannot support the transgender pride movement, because this movement seeks to validate a form of mutilation of one’s God-given body.”

Several members of Saint Anselm College’s LGBTQ community provided a response to Bentiz’s article. Dennis Aveta ’20, wrote, “Calling non-heterosexual people ‘sexually promiscuous’, stating that no one should have sex if they can’t procreate, regarding gender affirmation surgery as the ‘mutilation’ of the body is overtly offensive…”

Aveta added, “The most common reaction from friends was shock that something so offensive and ridiculous could be printed in the school paper. But it wasn’t shocking to members of the community.” He continued, “We know the discrimination and intolerance we face on campus and in society, and now our allies are starting to understand it too. I am a proud gay man and will not accept homophobia, transphobia, sexism, or any other form of discrimination based on one’s identity.”

Matthew Solomon, ’20, President of the College’s True Equality and Dignity Alliance (TEDA), released a statement responding to Benitz’s article on The Hilltopper. Solomon said, “I am sure these flags represented many things for the LGBTQ+ community on campus. They represented a chance to be seen when they are so often overlooked. They represented the love they have for members of the community who are closeted and may have needed to see that flag. And most importantly they represented the desperate cry for equality of the person who planted that flag.”

Solomon referenced the Unhooked event from last year, saying, “It seems as if only yesterday the campus was caught up in the discriminatory actions taken against the leader of the Knights of Columbus, or the series of anti-transgender talks sponsored by the college.”

Solomon also spoke about the impact that Benitz’s article, and the sentiments expressed in it, may have on members of the Saint Anselm College community. He wrote, “My heart goes out to anyone on campus that is still in the closet and has to see things like these articles being published, or the flags being taken down out of intolerance. However, a part of me is appreciative that this is happening. Some of you may be wondering why these little flags and the responses they received are such a big deal. They show the attitude on campus that is still very much there, that the LGBTQ+ community is expected to live quietly on campus. That we are not allowed to express ourselves and be seen for the beauty that our diversity gives us.”

The Hilltopper reached out to the Editor-in-Chief of the Saint Anselm Crier, Em Craig, for a comment on the publishing of Bentiz’s article. On the Crier‘s website, Craig wrote, “We are in support of our students’ right to share their opinions with the school. To deny a student that right, we are denying them their right to free speech.” It is worth noting that the Supreme Court of the United States has created several restrictions on the freedom of speech from the First Amendment, especially when malice, ill-will, and defamation are involved with the speech in question, even in opinion pieces (Milkovich v. Lorain Journal Co., 1990)

The following statement from the Culture Editor of the Crier was posted on December 10: “The editorial team of the Crier does not espouse any of the beliefs published in our newspaper except for the editorials which we write. The Opinion section is meant as a platform for the students of Saint Anselm College, which is a bipartisan campus. This openness means that some of our editions may skew in a certain direction because students who feel strongly about their political background are taking advantage of the Crier’s policy. That is not to say that The Crier is not open to the other side of the conversation. We promote honest and free discussion.”

It seems that the controversy surrounding LGBTQ+ issues on campus is far from over.

Matt Solomon, TEDA President, Responds to Crier Letter; Defends LGBTQ+ Visibility

As the President of a club with the primary purpose of increasing visibility for the LGBTQ+ community on campus, I was overjoyed to see the Gay Pride flags and Trans Pride flags spread across campus. I am sure these flags represented many things for the LGBTQ+ community on campus. They represented a chance to be seen when they are so often overlooked. They represented the love they have for members of the community who are closeted and may have needed to see that flag. And most importantly they represented the desperate cry for equality of the person who planted that flag.

I can only assume that the reason these people planted these flags was as a form of peaceful protest against the prevalent prejudice atmosphere on campus. It seems as if only yesterday the campus was caught up in the discriminatory actions taken against the leader of the Knights of Columbus, or the series of anti-transgender talks sponsored by the college. After much progress, there is still work to be done. The culture on campus is one of being asked to quietly exist. Of being asked not to make too many waves with your diversity. This is a sentiment that alarms me for many reasons.

First, it proves the complete ignorance of what it feels like for a member of the LGBTQ+ community while in the closet. I personally spent several years in the closet, surrounded by intolerant people, who would do things like publish articles about how Gay Pride represents sexual promiscuity instead of love, tolerance, and acceptance. To perfectly describe what it is like in the closet is impossible, but in my experience, it was a void. A completely empty space where my existence was put on hold for seven years of my life. I spent every day as if a zombie, aimlessly living a life that was not mine. The only emotion that would ever creep in was hate. Whenever I was reminded of my sexuality, of that part of my being that the world around me despised, I would be left alone in that void with only the hatred I had for myself. In this dark place, I attempted suicide multiple times. When I came to college I met a group of friends who accepted me with open arms, regardless of my identity. This is the first time I had ever experienced anything like that in combination with the freedom that comes with college, so I broke out of that place for the first time since I was 12 years old.

These statistics come from the Trevor Project, and prove that the lack of visible support for the LGBTQ+ community is a life-threatening problem. (Youth is defined as any age between 15-24)

●     Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 24.1.
LGB youth seriously contemplate suicide at almost three times the rate of heterosexual youth.
●     LGB youth are almost five times as likely to have attempted suicide compared to heterosexual youth.
●     Of all the suicide attempts made by youth, LGB youth suicide attempts were almost five times as likely to require medical treatment than those of heterosexual youth.
●     Suicide attempts by LGB youth and questioning youth are 4 to 6 times more likely to result in injury, poisoning, or overdose that requires treatment from a doctor or nurse, compared to their straight peers.
●     In a national study, 40% of transgender adults reported having made a suicide attempt. 92% of these individuals reported having attempted suicide before the age of 25.3 LGB youth who come from highly rejecting families are 8.4 times as likely to have attempted suicide as LGB peers who reported no or low levels of family rejection.
●     Each episode of LGBT victimization, such as physical or verbal harassment or abuse, increases the likelihood of self-harming behavior by 2.5 times on average.

Visibility is the most important aspect of helping the LGBTQ+ community. It is what I have devoted my life to, and I would give everything up for the cause.

As soon as I reclaimed my identity I made a promise to myself that I would do everything in my power to make sure that no one ever felt the way that I felt. This meant working tirelessly to spread LGBTQ+ inclusion wherever I could, and on this campus I had my work cut out for me. I started in Academia, writing papers and making arguments about things like how Jean-Jacques Rousseau would feel about the LGBTQ+ community. I moved on to Residential Life, where I made sure that the male Freshman dorm was inclusive for all members of the LGBTQ+ community. I worked with campus ministry, Abbot Matt, Father Benet, and more to ensure that they were just as committed as I was in spreading love for all. I organized the first ever Pride on Saint Anselm College (I called it LGBTQ+ Visibility Day) to showcase that the LGBTQ+ community and Saint Anselm College could live in harmony, without one overshadowing the other. I worked with my fellow officers of the True Equality and Dignity Alliance to create a safe space where our members felt loved and accepted and free to be whoever they wanted. I accomplished these things because I worked with the people on campus who understood the most important part of this battle for equality. That this is not an ideological war, this is not about belief systems, this is about our lives. This is about ensuring that all people feel accepted and safe in the place where they spend 8 months of their lives each year.

My heart goes out to anyone on campus that is still in the closet and has to see things like these articles being published, or the flags being taken down out of intolerance. However, a part of me is appreciative that this is happening. Some of you may be wondering why these little flags and the responses they received are such a big deal. They show the attitude on campus that is still very much there, that the LGBTQ+ community is expected to live quietly on campus. That we are not allowed to express ourselves and be seen for the beauty that our diversity gives us. I have worked tirelessly over the past two years with the wonderful people on this campus that hope to drown out the ignorance and hate that is on this campus waiting for its chance to crawl out of the woodwork. I hope that this article will inspire them to continue our fight and I call on others to join us as well. The True Equality and Dignity Alliance will be hosting multiple events next semester in addition to the Second Annual LGBTQ+ Visibility Day, we hope to see you all there.

Peace and Love,
Matthew Solomon
President, T.E.D.A.

School Gathers to Support LGBTQ+ Students

Juniors Jenna and Haley Lyons at the LGBTQ+ Day of Visibility. (Photo Courtesy of David Banach)

Homosexual, lesbian, queer, transgender, asexual, gay; these are just a few of the identities present within the Saint Anselm community. While these are identities, they are not definitions.

Last week, the Anselmian community took time for education surrounding the LGBTQ+ community. One event was a panel where five Saint Anselm students discussed their experiences of being identifying, which was followed by 75 minutes of questioning from the audience.

The panel was put on by the True Equality and Dignity Alliance (TEDA) and strived to abolish ignorance and facilitate healthy conversation. Within this panel, many misconceptions, stereotypes, and homophobic ideas where discussed and challenged. When asked about their experiences on this campus, many answers pointed to similar problems faced by identifying students.

While not specific to the Saint Anselm campus, there is a culture that can enable ignorance within students and the community as a whole. Some people on the panel pointed to words students use that have the ability to make a person feel small. The problem often goes overlooked, and that is why identifying students made an effort to convey the damage poorly-chosen words can do.

Some in the Saint Anselm community throw around terms that are derogatory and offensive without any thought for how they might affect a person who they are communicating with, or even just someone who overhears a conversation. Many students agreed that they have been hurt by words that fellow students and other members of the community have said, and they called on all students to do their best to change the culture.

An eye-opening discussion centered around allying with the LGBTQ+ community. Various speakers on the panel conveyed the importance of allies in speaking up when they feel uncomfortable with the words someone is using. They explained it is the responsibility of a good ally to step in and have an educational discussion surrounding the language used and the severe effects that it has.

An ally is not just someone who is an outsider that supports identifiers, but an ally can also be someone within the community; lesbian identifiers supporting asexual identifiers, for example, or transgender persons supporting gay identifiers. The feeling of support, as discussed in the panel, is important. It is important for the community to feel accepted, but those on the panel stressed the importance of avoiding a “savior complex.” Allies should remember that their role is to support, not to save.

This is why events such as Visibility Day, which took place on Thursday, April 26, are so important. Matt Soloman ’20 came up with the idea of Visibility Day on the Alumni Quad as a way to show identifiers and those who may not be comfortable coming out in the community that there are members of the Saint Anselm community that are there as a support.

Sophomore Matt Solomon addresses the crowd at the LGBTQ+ Visibility Day he organized. (Photo courtesy of David Banach)

When asked about why this day was important to Matt, he replied, “LGBTQ+ Visibility Day was an effort on my part to showcase the support for the community on campus… Unfortunately, we usually only hear about those on campus who wish to de-legitimize our existence, because they are given platforms to do so.” He continued, “This event was an attempt to give all allies an extremely visible platform (right in front of Alumni) to show their support and let the community know they have an important place on the Hilltop.”

Sharing his own story, Matt continued by acknowledging the difficulties that he personally faced prior to coming out. “There are a lot of temptations to stay hidden and not accept who you are” he revealed. “I personally was in the closet for seven years until I finally decided to come out. Being stuck in a place like that is incredibly debilitating to mental health and is a degrading thing for any human to feel.” He used his experience to be of support to others who have gone, are going, or will go through a similar experience. The community support, like the support displayed at Visibility Day, is essential and is something that the Saint Anselm College community must come together around.

Matt called on the school and community to continue on this path and go even further, “It is the school’s responsibility to provide a safe environment for all Anselmians. While my event showcased great progress, there is still much more work to be done.”

Featured image courtesy of Haley Lyons ’20.