It took a horrific hate crime, numerous protests by GU Pride, and countless hours of meetings between dedicated administrators, faculty, and students, but on Tuesday Georgetown finally took a giant step forward with the official opening of the LGBTQ Resource Center. Located on the third floor of the Leavey Center, the center marks a new chapter in Georgetown’s history as it strives to become a truly inclusive university for all of its students, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. The center promises to become a vital resource for LGBTQ students at Georgetown and all those who helped create it should be commended for their tireless dedication to helping Georgetown address the needs of all of its students.
President Jack DeGioia, in particular, demonstrated true leadership last October when he announced his unequivocal support for a fully funded LGBTQ center. It wasn’t the obvious, or easiest, choice for him to make, either. Not seven years ago, Georgetown administrators rejected a similar proposal on the grounds that it might be seen as “advocating activity condemned by the Church” and might “also evolve over time into a role of advocating immoral activity.” DeGioia has proved that those days are long gone, even citing Georgetown’s Catholic identity as one of the reasons why Georgetown must embrace, not condemn, its diverse student body.
The center will fill a void at Georgetown, offering programming and educational resources, as well as acting as an institutional voice on behalf of the LGTBQ community. This administrative support should go a long way towards cementing LGTBQ culture as an accepted part of Georgetown life.
The center will also offer training and dialogue sessions, helping to expand the capabilities of students themselves in fostering more dialogue and understanding of LGTBQ life. Hopefully, the center will also work closely with other groups on campus, extending a message of tolerance towards students it wouldn’t otherwise reach.
As far as Georgetown has come, we still have a long way to go. Just last Saturday, a student was harassed with homophobic slurs by ten males while he was walking in Burleith, a reminder of the work that remains ahead. The LGBTQ center, by supporting LGBTQ students on campus and educating the Georgetown community about LGBTQ issues, is an excellent beginning. We hope acceptance and inclusion for all will follow.
what a joke – degioia opposed the center until his hand was forced! the voice should have known that.