By Kenny Yum
As the Bisexuals, Gays and Lesbians of Ryerson (BGALOR) celebrate their Awareness Days this week (BGLAD), they have more to worry about than educating Ryerson about homosexuality; they have to worry about their lives.
BGALOR received death threats last week as they prepared for BGLAD, which runs until Thursday. “It’s been a week of total stress, and can I say, hell,” said Cherolyn Knapp, a member of BGALOR, at a press conference on Monday. Karen Craig, head of Ryerson Security, representatives from Ryerson Administration, Metro police and other Toronto area university representatives were all on hand for the conference.
Ryerosn security told BGALOR about the death threats last Wednesday at their meeting and put security measures into place. An officer is now stationed at the BGALOR office whenever a member is present and members are escorted onto the campus. Security will be tight around campus while Metro police investigate the threats.
At Monday’s press conference, Metro detectives said the death threats were “bogus,” but that the investigation will continue. Knapp says that the past week’s events have been a learning experience that will prepare them for future threats.
The atmosphere was tense during the question period that followed the press conference. Michael Dewson, Ryerson’s V-P of Faculty and Staff affairs told students that a Presidential committee on homophobia which was set up more than two years ago is set to release recommendations in two months. The report is to suggest changes to Ryerson’s way of handling homophobia in the community. But several students were not impressed, saying that Ryerson should take action instead of wasting time on presidential committees.
Students say that discrimination against homosexuals is not a new problem. BGALOR and other members of the homosexual community at Ryerson have faced discrimination in the past, but BGALOR member Howard Shulman says that “the threat is probably the worst so far, the most serious one.” In the past few years, BGALOR posters have been defaced and homophobic graffiti has appeared on walls at Ryerson.
“Harassment should not be a part of my reality as a student at Ryerson,” Knapp said. “I do not accept that anyone should accept harassment, assault or threats as a part of an educational experience.”
Students who are out of the closet do not feel safe about revealing their sexual preference. Susan Nielson, a student who returned to school after 25 years said she doesn’t feel safe here. “I’m well aware that people here at Ryerson are still getting beat up for being open and gay.”
Shulman says that the community has to be educated to be more tolerant, or discrimination will continue. Knapp agrees. “Harassment goes unreported because of fear and lack of faith in the system that does not take action,” she said.
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