Anti-Gay Banner Sparks Controversy

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA - Controversy erupted over the weekend after a Hereford resident posted a sign on the window of his residence hall room reading "Gay? Not Fine By Me!" last week in response to the "Gay? Fine By Me" t-shirt campaign sponsored by the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Resource Center.
Third-year Engineering student Mark Hopke said he placed the sign in his window to protest the University funding of the LGBT Resource Center's campaign during "Proud to Be Out Week" last week.
"I became aware of the LGBT resource center using student funds to purchase the "Gay? Fine By Me" t-shirts," Hopke said. "I viewed that to be an inappropriate use of student funds because it sends the message that the entire U.Va. community supports the message the LGBT and the QSU are trying to send through the 'Proud to Be Out Week.'"
According to Dean of Students Penny Rue, the LGBT Resource Center is under the office of the dean of students.
"Its funding sources are broad and includes the support of the Serpentine Alumni Society," Rue said. "I don't believe that the student activities [fund] supported [the LGBT T-shirt] event."
There is an option available to University students to appeal for a refund in regard to their support of programs sponsored through student activity funds, explained Susan Davis, special advisor to the general counsel.
Hopke said he did not seek this option in response to the LGBT Resource Center's campaign.
"I knew about it and chose not to act on it," Hopke said. "By the time that I would have wanted to request a refund, the deadline had passed."
QSU President Kevin Wu said that he was informed of Hopke's sign through e-mail.
"QSU met and we decided on what would be the best way to respond to [the sign], and we definitely wanted to keep the momentum of the reaction," Wu said. "We wanted there to be visibility to the issue."
QSU issued a press release in response to the sign, Wu said.
"The press release basically summarized what the student had done and it also quoted his statement telling why he put up the sign," Wu said. "It said that his actions were hurtful to members of the University community."
LGBT Resource Center coordinator Joy Pugh explained that she sees Hopke's action and the subsequent reaction as a "good thing."
"I think it's basically an issue about speech--we had the right to wear the shirts last week, and he has the right to put this statement in the window," Pugh said. "I think it's a great thing that our project created so much awareness on Grounds."
Hopke's sign remained on his window until Sunday night, he said.
Hopke said he has received criticism for his actions.
"I've gotten response within the Hereford community as well as the entire U.Va. body," Hopke said. "I have been the target of a number of name callings; at the same time some people want to discuss my point-of-view with me and have a constructive debate."
Hopke said people had responded through e-mail, in person and through phone calls.
I was "targeted towards my specific viewpoint on the gay lifestyle and what I would define as the choice to be gay," Hopke said.
Rue said that she was concerned about Hopke's situation.
"I asked my staff and colleagues in Resident Life to touch base with the student ... [concerning] his wellbeing," Rue said. "I asked the LGBT director to reach out to the people who were responding to the poster to help them put it in a larger context."
According to Wu, at least two reports were filed on the University's "Just Report It" Website.
"I personally know of at least two students who had reported it through Just Report It" Wu said. "They're dealing with a dean through the office of the dean of students."
University spokesperson Carol Wood explained that the Web-site was created to make it easy for students to report any kind of bias incidents by the President's Commission on Diversity and Equity.
from The Cavalier Daily