As a result of the drag show which took place last year on the UMSL campus and the subsequent complaints I filed with the University Administration, Board of Curators, and legislative bodies, many facts have been grossly misstated or omitted entirely from a healthy discussion which should have ensued.
It would be a simple task to banter with the liberal and often times irresponsible gay rights movement, as to why events such as drag shows greatly harm the gay and lesbian community and set our cause back immensely.
In the interest of clarity however, it is prudent to explain the rationale behind my alleged "assault" on the freedom of speech at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and the harmful effects on gay rights that UMSL's Department of Student Life has perpetuated by sanctioning an event such as the above referenced.
To label last October's "show" as anything other than sexual and appalling is false. As an attendant at last year's drag show, I was amazed at the indecency and crudeness allowed to take place on the University campus with funding from student fees and underwriting by Missouri taxpayer dollars.
To be clear, this event was not at all comparable to such acts as comedy shows or Homecoming dances, but was instead at a level of vulgarity one would expect to witness in a nudity club or an "adult's only" movie theater.
Male performers not only displayed hormone induced bare breasts, but featured undergarments revealing private areas. Performers caressed themselves and touched audience members in a sexual manner that would certainly result in citations by law enforcement in most municipalities.
Simulated sex acts were performed on students with the star performer even directing an audience member onto stage where he/she verbalized and physically demonstrated oral sex on the student. The event culminated with a lap dance by a top-nude performer as the audience member placed money in the dancer's G-String.
Although this description only scratches the surface of what took place last October, it is important to also recognize that children as young as elementary school-aged were allowed to witness this event. Additional students such as numerous high school-aged and other minors were publicly intoxicated and allowed to not only remain in the event, but come and go from the parking lot as they continued to drink alcohol.
No substantive security was visible and administration officials eagerly looked on as these events transpired.
At one point, the host asked all "straight" students to identify themselves by standing up and then chastised them for being straight by calling them names such as "breeders," and others.
It is evident from the numerous death threats, slanderous statements, and physical attacks I have experienced from my public criticism on this issue, that some may not believe these actions are deplorable and are merely an expression of free speech.
On this point of view, I emphatically disagree. The language and actions allowed to commence on the UMSL campus were not only legally negligent, they violated the University's own anti-discrimination policy against verbal or physical harassment by any means, and in this case sexual orientation.
It is curious as to what the topic of conversation would be or what the administration would have done had a fraternity sponsored a similar event and identified the gay students by calling them "fags."
We would likely be having a completely different discussion, and this in itself is wrong. Equality and discrimination applies to all people, regardless of sexual orientation or other categories. We must give equality in order to expect it in return.
The negative effects of events such as this drag show reach far beyond UMSL. Transsexuality, including transgendered people and drag queens, represent a fringe part of society that has nothing to do with being gay or lesbian and is not representative of our community as a whole.
By giving this radical and unrelated group a launching ground for freak behavior associated with gays and lesbians is detrimental. The gay community must recognize that either fair or unfair, we are the ones fighting for equal rights. In this role, we must always put forth an image of responsibility, diversity, and normalcy.
Being gay or lesbian is not a choice, but we do have the choice as to how we present ourselves and for the message we deliver to a society which is desperately trying to accept us, but keeps getting pushed back by the very people who are seeking equality.
Charles Stadtlander is an UM-St. Louis student and president of the Log Cabin Republicans of Greater St. Louis.
Be the first to comment on this article!