By Arturo Brooks |Staff Writer| The riots at University of California, Berkeley earlier this month have brought forth concerns on college campuses throughout the U.S. in regards to federal funding, campus security, and freedom of speech. Milo Yiannopoulos was scheduled to speak on Feb. 1 at UC Berkeley, until a riot broke out and caused his event to be canceled. Yiannopoulos is infamous for speaking against feminism, the black lives matter movement, extremist leftists, and extremist LGBT members, despite Yiannopoulos himself being a gay, Jewish immigrant who claims he "only dates black guys." A peaceful protest was planned to denounce the Republican speaker. Not only by students … [Read more...] about Freedom of Speech vs. violence on university campuses
gay
Changing Clothes
By Nylles Vernon |Staff Writer| The SMSU Pride Center is hosting a clothing drive to help provide clothing to transgender individuals. The “Out of Your Closet & Into Ours” clothing drive is devoted to helping students who are trying to find themselves and do not have access to gender-encouraging clothing. Newly or gently-used clothing must be washed before donation. Pride Center is an organization that focuses on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and intersex students and their allies that welcomes all genders to a friendly environment. They also curate school-wide events, as well as provide entertainment and workshops that benefit the … [Read more...] about Changing Clothes
Pride Center provides peace
By Michael Isberto |Features Editor| The Pride Center at CSUSB is one of the many resource centers on campus that empower everyone’s singular identity and journey. Their mission statement states, “The Pride Center provides education and advocacy in order to develop a more equitable and inclusive environment by addressing issues of homophobia and heterosexism throughout the campus community.” Many students are aware of the Pride Center as a resource on campus, and believe it’s a great place to build relationships, as well as build up a community. The Pride Center holds many events throughout the year including, Cosmic Queers, Lavender Graduation and Gaymer … [Read more...] about Pride Center provides peace
Homophobia In hip hop!
By Justine Lopez |Staff Writer| Music is a form of art, and no one should ever be told which direction they can take their art. But rappers are known for their 'tough guy' image and of course, their love for women. But what happens when a rapper expresses his love for another man? He gets the black sheep treatment. Even though it's 2015 where being gay is becoming less of a taboo, not everyone has warmed up to the idea yet. Recently on the reality TV show, "Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood," viewers got an inside look into lives of up and coming gay rap artists Miles and Malan. During the time of filming, neither of them came out and both expressed their fear of coming out … [Read more...] about Homophobia In hip hop!
RFRA is a discriminatory act
By Kassandra Garcia |Staff Writer| The state of Indiana has been faced with national criticism due to their implementation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). In my opinion, the act creates a huge set back in equality because it allows people to justify discriminatory acts as religious choice, but is plain bigotry. When I first heard about the RFRA being enacted, I thought it was a joke. How is it still possible to allow this type of backwards thinking? This law offers no protection for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) community because it allows the possibility of discrimination. Indiana’s Legislature and Governor Michael Pence put … [Read more...] about RFRA is a discriminatory act
Queer athletes deserve recognition
By Shane Burrell |Sports Editor| & Loydie Burmah |Opinions Editor| Queer collegiate athletes can risk their professional careers by coming out. Queer college athletes have a higher risk of risking their professional sports careers by coming out due to the lack of support from the professional sports community. Coming out is an ongoing process, and for the queer athlete revealing one’s true identity does not stop in the locker room. “Homophobia is a salient theme within both collegiate and non-collegiate male athletic subcultures,” wrote researchers Kenneth B. Muir and Trina Seitz in their participant-observational study on machismo, misogyny, and homophobia within … [Read more...] about Queer athletes deserve recognition
Divisions at the Vatican
By Aimee Villalpando |Staff Writer| The Vatican was divided on the last day of the recent Synod, in a vote on whether the church should change their approach in dealing with non-traditional families. In the two week Synod, a council of the church, bishops from all over the world gathered in Rome to discuss modern family-related issues. The Synod's final report shows votes on three articles related to the divorced/remarried couples and that the welcoming of homosexuals did not attain the required two-thirds majority vote among the 183 voters, according to the Huffington Post. Pope Francis planned for this Synod to be unlike any other, as he encouraged bishops to express their … [Read more...] about Divisions at the Vatican
Rams make history with Sam
By Luis Petty |Staff Writer| Michael Sam, an openly gay player in the National Football League Draft was selected by the St. Louis Rams on Saturday, May 10, 2014. This NFL draft is being considered a point of progress for American football. Sam is from the small town of Hitchcock, Texas, a town 40 miles southeast of Houston, Texas. According to The New York Times, in an article by Joe Drape, Steve Elder and Billy Witz, Sam didn’t have an easy childhood. He grew up with a strong masculine father Michael Sam Sr., who expressed in an interview his negative reaction while celebrating his birthday at a Denny’s to the news of his son’s sexual orientation. Sam came out publicly on … [Read more...] about Rams make history with Sam
Boy Scout Policies changing but it’s too little too late
By Brenda Servin |Staff Writer| For over 20 years the Boy Scouts of America’s policy has prohibited openly homosexual scouts from gaining membership into their organization. At the annual Boy Scouts of America meeting in Grapevine, Texas, 1,400 Nation Council members voted on the policy that would allow openly homosexual boys into the scouts. The policy change won with 61 percent of the vote to allow openly gay youths to join. The new policy for the Boy Scouts of America states, “no youth may be denied membership in Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone,” it will take into affect January 1, 2014. The new policy change was a bittersweet … [Read more...] about Boy Scout Policies changing but it’s too little too late
Colors of the Rainbow has CSUSB students talking about coming out
By Kevin Schaefer |Staff Writer| People of color need better representation in the LGBTTQQIA community and the community at large. This was one of the sentiments expressed on March 6 at Colors of the Rainbow held in the SMSU Theater. The Pride Center hosted a panel of LGBTTQQIA people of color who talked about their experiences and discussed different aspects about being a person of color within the LGBTTQQIA community. The panel included Alex Iling, DeeJay Brown, Bien Fule-ver, Virginia Millacci and Izak Perrez. The panelist talked about their experiences, the organizations they’re involved in, as well as different issues that impact the LGBTTQQIA community. “If you look … [Read more...] about Colors of the Rainbow has CSUSB students talking about coming out