COLUMN: Really guys, really?

    This past week we ran into not one, but two opportunities for people to become True Aggies. I have to say I find this tradition kind of charming despite the huge crowd of cheering onlookers and shenanigans on the A. The problem I ran into this particular time occurred when two of my good friends, who have been dating for a few months and who are genuinely one of the cutest couples I’ve seen in some time, decided to hop up for a peck on the lips like so many couples before them have. These two eagerly got into line and were among some of the earlier people to join in the festivities that evening.   

    Only problem is that when they got up to kiss, they were booed and jeered at, the crowd began shouting unpleasant things at these two … now why was this? Oh yeah, because they’re boys. All of their other behavior was the same as anyone else’s and they kept it short and sweet as opposed to some of the get-a-room-inspiring activities of others, but simply because they happened not to fit some people’s idea of a good match people felt it was their right to be cruel and unkind.   

    Now, I’ve heard some say “That’s fine, they just don’t need to parade it in my face.” Why on earth not? Everyone else out there was parading their behavior. I know many in this area don’t feel they can personally embrace people who do have a heterosexual orientation, but the thing is you could have been quiet. You didn’t have to actively be rude. 

    I just have a quick series of questions.

    First, who do you think you are?

    It’s not your place to decide what’s right for other people. It’s not affecting you, it’s a personal matter that doesn’t impact you in any way, shape or form.

    Second, how dare you?

    Did you know that the majority of LGBTQ youth will stay home from school at least one day this year because they will be too afraid of what will happen to them if they go? It’s bullying and a society that allows it that have led to so many suicides among kids who identify differently than what is considered the norm. I’m certainly not of the opinion that just because someone dies for a cause it becomes right. This, however, isn’t so much a cause as a call for the respect of others and an allowance for people’s dignity.

    Furthermore, I feel that it is only appropriate that we look into the fact that our view of sexuality and its being allowed in our society changes so drastically with gender. What I mean to address is the pair of girls who later jumped onto the A and instead of encountering a social tirade they were cheered, wolf-whistled and cat-called because we as a society have decided that sort of behavior is attractive to members of the male gender. What if those two were together in the same way as the boys were? While they may have just been doing so for attention, the potential that they were in a committed relationship should probably be considered before some chauvinistic idiot deems it appropriate to yell out, “Can I get between you?”

    I’ve recently encountered a political figure far away from me on the spectrum of political shadings who I love when it comes to social issues like these.

    “We have homophobes in our party. That’s disgusting to me.” That’s a quote from none other than former Republican senator from Wyoming Alan Simpson. Clearly human dignity is something that can cross party delineations, I just wish it was something that we could all agree to all the time.

Anna Jane Harris is a junior majoring in political science. She can be reached at anna.j.harris@aggiemail.usu.edu.