UD students rally together in the wake of on campus transgender discrimination

‘Ally is a verb, not a title’

On Monday, October 24, the University of Delaware Republicans club hosted Milo Yiannopoulos, in what turned out to be quite the controversial event. Milo, known for his outrageous comments against LGBTQ+ individuals (despite identifying as gay), was nothing short of outrageous in terms of comments.

One of the more hurtful moments of his presentation was when he blamed parents for “letting their children become transgender.”

In response to Yiannopoulos’s performance, 27 Registered Student Organizations organized a Unity Fair. It was a safe space for students to come together and celebrate their identities and realities.

However, posters from Yiannopoulos’s event, with slurs such as “Trannies are gay” and “Trans = Mentally Ill,” were displayed around campus buildings, such as Smith Hall and Purnell Hall. While no group has taken ownership of putting up these posters, they were taken down by the Newark Police Department.

In the wake of such discrimination, the LGBTQ+ community at UD could have turned to hate. Instead, they turned to love. A peaceful protest was held in front of Mitchell Hall on October 26, creating a safe space for any individuals who felt threatened by the recent events on campus.

TJ White was one of the main organizers of the event and offered some advice to cisgender students who came to show their support: “Educate other cis students. Post on social media – spread the word.”

Despite the surrounding circumstances, the protest was a time for unity and love. Lasting all day, it brought in people from many different backgrounds. There were members of UD’s Haven organization, along with the university’s professors and other faculty. Professor Bueno-Hansen even brought her entire Women and Gender Studies class to the rally.

Students stood up to share their stories, offering insight to how the university can do better. As one individual said, “Ally is a verb, not a title. If you are an ally, you better be advocating.” It is not enough just to be sympathetic to this community’s struggles; we all must do better to create a safe space within this campus and outside of it.

Part of the peaceful protest included a banner supporting transgender individuals. Everyone was invited to sign, and many people did. One UDPD officer even stopped by to offer his support (and a hug) to the protest’s organizers.

Overall, the protest was met with positivity and love. As TJ said, “I’ve seen more love than hate.” Despite this, more steps need to be taken by the University to ensure the safety of its students, particularly those within these minorities. First year president, Dennis Assanis, offered his support to the movement this morning but made no move to apologize for allowing Yiannopoulos to come to campus.

As Nat Veiga – the director of outreach and service for Haven – said, the school’s approach to dealing with LGBTQ+ struggles “has been reactionary, not proactive.”

The University of Delaware cannot allow speaks like Yiannopoulos to come to campus simply on the grounds of free speech. As protestors at the rally chanted, “Free speech does not mean hate speech.” The LGBTQ+ community of this university deserves better.

And they need it now.

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University of Delaware