Just weeks before local gay community members were set to celebrate their annual Pride festival they received an unexpected surprise.
The Advocate, a national gay and lesbian news magazine, has placed the University in the top fifth of a list of America’s 100 best colleges for gay and lesbian students.
Chicora Martin, director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Educational and Support Services Program, said she was not surprised that the University earned a slot in the book. Several months ago, her office filled out “extensive paperwork” to nominate the University, but she was surprised that the University’s rank was one of the top 20 “best of the best” schools in the nation.
“I knew we’d be in the top 100, but to be in the top 20 I felt was very exciting,” Martin said.
The top 20 list includes many large universities and Ivy League schools, including all of the California Pac-10 universities and Duke University, which Martin singled out and said “does amazing things” for gay and lesbian students, faculty and staff.
“The most important thing is to look at the rest of the list,” Martin said, “It’s all huge schools in huge cities. It says a lot of things about the types of schools that are on this list that Oregon is on it.”
“The Advocate College Guide for LGBT Students,” by Shane L. Windmeyer, ranks 100 universities based on several criteria, including ” policies, institutional commitment and support, academic life, housing, student life, counseling and health efforts, campus safety, and recruitment and retention efforts,” according to the publisher’s Web site.
Martin said the University’s rank as one of the best schools in the country for LGBTQ students could have far-reaching implications. Not only could more students and faculty from around the country choose to attend school at the University because of the guide, but the news may attract donors who are concerned with LGBTQ issues, she said. The high placement on the list also puts pressure on the University to keep up the “amazing things” the school does for LGBTQ students, she said.
“It sets a standard and expectation that we have to keep up,” she said. “We have to continue to be cutting-edge and do more for LGBTQ students because they’re going to expect that from us.”
This Saturday, area residents will have a chance to come together and celebrate Eugene and Springfield’s gay community. The annual Pride festival will be held at Alton-Baker park from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Several entertainers from around the northwest will perform at Pride, said Jer Megowan, festival coordinator. There is something for everyone on the schedule, he said, including performances from stand-up comics, musicians and SheBang!, a local drag queen group. SNAFU a new bar in Eugene, is sponsoring the beer garden and will also host an after-party in its parking lot downtown, Megowan said.
Real estate agent Melody Bnah will be holding a forum on gay and lesbian issues in real-estate and will discuss how gay and lesbian couples can purchase homes
comfortably, Megowan said.
Several vendors and non-profit groups such as the HIV Alliance, Planned Parenthood and PFLAG will host booths at Pride, and organizers will raffle prizes from local restaurants, theaters and retailers. Late in the day, attendees will have a chance to win a date at an auction of local bachelors and bachelorettes. The festival provides dinner for the winning couples.
The festival is certainly fun, but is also a day for people to come hang out in a place where they know they are completely safe and can be themselves, Megowan said.
“We have a very strong community,” he said. “We come together with friends and allies to show that we’re normal people just like everyone else.”
Megowan said the festival committee picked this year’s theme, “Pride not Prejudice,” because members felt it is important for the gay community to unite – not just against prejudice from the outside world – but also from strife within the community.
“We wanted to recognize that whether we like it or not, there is prejudice and we need to come together,” he said. “If we don’t have equality within our own community, how can we expect it from anyone else?”
Bill Sullivan, who performs with SheBang!, said that overall, Eugene has become a safe place for the gay community.
“Eugene has become more friendly. Times change,” he said. “Kids are coming out younger and everyone is
willing to be themselves. The whole Eugene area is diverse and people can be themselves. This is a good chance for everyone – not just the gay community – to come out and get to know each other,” Sullivan said.
Megowan said there is a suggested $5 donation for entrance to Pride. The entry fee can be paid at the gate or buttons can be purchased at SNAFU or Mother Kali’s bookstore. The money raised from donations is used to pay festival costs.