Appalachian author Silas House told the Appalachian Studies Association's annual conference last weekend that the faculty and presidents of the region's colleges and universities must become more involved in the fight against discrimination based on sexual orientation "instead of acting as shrinking violets who want to avoid controversy that might upset people."
House told the gathering of Appalachian academics, meeting at Marshall University, that many professors have told him "they rarely broached orientation in class because students are so divided" on the topic. "This is the every reason we should be discussing this issue more often, and more openly," he said.
"Too many of our young people feel as if they're camping a whole here in the wilderness before their exodus," House said, and they give many reasons. He choked up as he said, "The one that hurts me the most is when they say they're leaving because they feel invisible, or they feel as if they are only accepted with suspicion."
In his final appeal, House said "Appalachian people have been at the forefront of the major movements for change in this country. We have to be as active in this fight for fairness and equality. . . . I challenge all of you to stand against discrimination, and to foster discussion on this issue. Don't allow gay Appalachians or anyone who's different to feel invisible or silenced. . . . In every single Appalachian state, it is absolutely and perfectly legal to kick a gay or transgendered person out of a restaurant, to refuse them service. We would no longer stand for this happening to a person of color. . . . To my knowledge, among sitting college presidents in the region, only one, the president of [Kentucky's] Morehead State University, has made a blatant gesture of support for the fairness movement. I find that upsetting and unjust." For a video of the speech, click here.
House told the gathering of Appalachian academics, meeting at Marshall University, that many professors have told him "they rarely broached orientation in class because students are so divided" on the topic. "This is the every reason we should be discussing this issue more often, and more openly," he said.
"Too many of our young people feel as if they're camping a whole here in the wilderness before their exodus," House said, and they give many reasons. He choked up as he said, "The one that hurts me the most is when they say they're leaving because they feel invisible, or they feel as if they are only accepted with suspicion."
In his final appeal, House said "Appalachian people have been at the forefront of the major movements for change in this country. We have to be as active in this fight for fairness and equality. . . . I challenge all of you to stand against discrimination, and to foster discussion on this issue. Don't allow gay Appalachians or anyone who's different to feel invisible or silenced. . . . In every single Appalachian state, it is absolutely and perfectly legal to kick a gay or transgendered person out of a restaurant, to refuse them service. We would no longer stand for this happening to a person of color. . . . To my knowledge, among sitting college presidents in the region, only one, the president of [Kentucky's] Morehead State University, has made a blatant gesture of support for the fairness movement. I find that upsetting and unjust." For a video of the speech, click here.
No comments:
Post a Comment