Last term I attended GLOW Ally training, designed to raise my awareness of on-campus resources for the queer and questioning as well as better enable me to discuss issues affecting the queer population in Waterloo. For those of you who don’t know, “queer” is a politically correct, all-encompassing term for those of non-traditional sexual orientation. GLOW started out as one of the first organizations in Canada campaigning for gay rights. While there is still a place for activism, GLOW has transformed to be more of a resource for individuals wishing to learn more about history and issues affecting the queer population, as well as offering services and social events to the queer and queer-friendly community.
As someone who cares passionately about minority rights, I am always up for a discussion about the rights of various groups and how we, as the Waterloo Engineering community, can help promote equity. As such, I was quite distressed to learn of several studies illustrating homophobia on campus, especially in the faculty of Engineering. Thinking back to my own experiences, I realized I’ve witnessed several homophobic incidents on campus, and not done enough to educate and rebuke the offenders.
In the words of our illustrious president, this is “Un-fu*****” acceptable.” In the words of Edmund Burke, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” While tolerating and encouraging homophobic (or racist, sexist, etc.) jokes, comments or more flagrant acts may seem harmless, tolerating intolerance can be very dangerous indeed. Cognitive psychologists will tell us that if we repeatedly hear or think something is true, we will eventually start to believe it. I am imploring my fellow engineers to take a stand against any such activity whenever they see it, to prevent such pernicious ideas from taking root.
Personally, one of my biggest pet peeves is the phrase “that’s so gay,” to describe a prof, exam, homework, policy, etc. that one dislikes. Really? Is it really “gay”? Or do you merely lack the proper intelligence and/or diction to properly express yourself? Next time you hear someone use the phrase “that’s so gay,” or attempt to do so yourself, think about why it is your mind has become so lazy and/or stupid that you can’t even think of an appropriate phrase to describe your thoughts.
My final point is that we should try and reverse the onus. To me, if we want to employ the negative connotation of a word to indicate our displeasure because we do not have adequate means of expressing ourselves, we should at least use a word that is actually negative. Next time you want to say “that’s so stupid,” “that’s so unfair,” “that’s so poorly thought out” or the like, why not try “that’s so homophobic.”
Marc
Great article Alex! I’m pretty sure you were in my ally training.
A.A
Alex, I really appreciate your article. In light of the points you brought up, I’d like to bring your attention to the Engsoc Meeting 3 minutes, section 4.6 Women in Engineering.
Considering that you’re an exec and the Engineering society is the official representation for ALL engineering students at UW, I am really disappointed in what is written in an official Engsoc document. The minutes are available on the official Engsoc website here: http://engsoc.uwaterloo.ca/sites/default/files/documents/society/minutes/s10_engsoc_meeting_3.pdf
Here’s the entire section, so that it won`t be taken out of context.
“4.6 Women in Engineering Update
Remember voting for Barbie to be a computer engineer? Next Barbie is going to be a computer engineer. Idea to dress up and get a newspaper to bring awareness to field of engineering. We have media rep working with us, who will start seeing if there’s interest. Anyone interested in dressing up?
[Do you actually want this?] Yes! We want to be on board and not gay barbie skanking up engineering. We want to say that now little girls can know they can go into engineering.”
So…apparently the WIE reps want to let little girls know that they can be engineers, but not gay or “skanky” engineers. I get that they are trying to inspire/empower girls, but they do so at the expense of disrespecting the queer community and subjugating women with homophobic and sexist comments.
This could have been a misinterpretation on the behalf of the secretary. I wasn’t at the meeting so I don’t know what the WIE reps actually said.
I don’t support censorship, but if this is the type of language that goes unquestioned at an official Engsoc meeting is this the type of representation UW engineers want or deserve?
Urallgay
This article is nothing but a rant on those who are straight. Here is a better discussion–why is it acceptable to publish an entire article stereotyping straight people and cry about gay people?
You're all a bunch of flaming homosexuals. That any better?
adfasfasdfsdfsdfs
Wow me like man with tight ball
Muthafuckajones
Dick on dick action right thurr
Gay =/= Same-Sex Sexual Pref.
Having a sexual orientation that isn’t “straight” IN NO WAY SHAPE OR FORM means gay. Gay is a word used in derogatory fashion, that bears no stipulations surrounding any particular grouping of human beings.
It’s a word with a bunch of definitions, get over yourself white knight.
Humpty Dumpty
What a boring rant. Obviously, people should all talk really formal and not use slang. Sometimes there’s nothing else to say but “that’s so gay” or “that’s stupid” or just a stream of swearing. It’s tiring to hear about everyone trying to act politically correct. People are just so touchy about everything it seems.