After a homophobic e-mail was sent over the Boston Area Club’s list serve, Georgetown’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning community were angered. But those feelings have turned to optimism as both sides entertain ideas of how to make amends and address issues of homophobia on Georgetown’s campus.
The e-mail, attached to a doctored picture of the New York Yankees’ Derek Jeter and Roger Clemens in a sexually suggestive position, indicated that the homosexual depiction was a reason for Red Sox fans to hate the Yankees.
“We’re trying to come up with a constructive response to this,” said Boston Area Club member Joe Martin (CAS ‘05).
Both members of the Boston Area Club and GU Pride, Georgetown’s club for LGBTQ students, have reacted positively to the idea of a joint Boston Area Club and GU Pride sponsored discussion of homosexuality in sports. The groups hope to bring Corey Johnson, who came out of the closet while the captain of his high school football team, to speak on campus.
The student who sent the e-mail, Ted Harrington (CAS ‘05), has apologized to members of the LGBTQ community, and said that he never intended to insult anyone.
“I realized the offensive nature of the photograph within twenty minutes of sending the e-mail. At that point, my stomach sank to the floor as I realized the harm I could have just caused,” he said.
Interim Director of LGBTQ Community Resources Chuck VanSant met with Harrington to discuss the e-mail. “He has really owned up and really earned my respect in the way that he responded to his own act of ignorance,” VanSant said.
As well as meeting with Harrington alone, VanSant met together with Harrington, members of the Boston Area Club and members of the LGBTQ community. VanSant said they have come to an understanding on the issue.
The initial controversy over the e-mail was compounded by the fact that it was sent over a club e-mail list. While the e-mail’s content raises questions about whether it violates the University’s anti-discrimination policy, the Office of Student Conduct has yet to make a decision on whether to prosecute the matter, according to VanSant. Leaders of GU Pride have urged the administration to take an educative, instead of a punitive, approach.
Zac Bernstein, (CAS ‘06) a member of GU Pride, was mostly concerned that the e-mail was sent through a club listserv. “It’s just the fact that he sent it out on a University listserv that’s not intended for that purpose,” he said.
Others, such as Kate McDonald (CAS ‘04), co-facilitator for OUTspoken, a Georgetown support group for LGBTQ students, had a stronger reaction.
“These kinds of statements, in which gay people become the target of jokes or being gay becomes a reason to hate someone, are one big reason why people feel they cannot safely speak out about their sexuality,” she said.
