By Jessica Lewis, Assistant News Editor
In celebration of the inaugural Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ) History Month, The Pride Network hosted an event on Wednesday, October 14 called "The ‘F' Word: The Development of an Oppressive Word Toward the LGBTQ Community." The purpose of the program, was to "discuss a topic that gets little attention, which is homophobia and its presence in our community and the greater community," said Anthony Crisci, the Chair of the Hofstra Chapter of the Pride Network.
Ryan Greene, the Director of Multicultural and International Student Programs, lead the program with a slide show discussing historical and recent events that effect the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community (LGBT). President Obama recently spoke at the Human Rights Campaign and Washington D.C. was a site for a LGBT march for full equality.
This year also celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellions, which is another reason for the appropriate timing of this event. Greene explained the Stonewall Rebellions helped to start the gay rights movement after police raided Stonewall Inn, a popular LGBT community hangout in Greenwich Village.
Greene stated that the derogatory "F" word is used, "too frequently, consciously and unconsciously." Last year, a program hosted by the University called "The ‘N' Word – Should it Ever be Used Again by Anyone" was a success, Greene said, so developing the same concept around the "F" word was also predicted to be a success.
During the program, Greene asked students to recall the first time they heard the word after realizing that it was a derogatory term. He had one request during the program, for everyone to avoid using the actual "F" word. He also discussed the multiple meanings of the word, from a bundle of sticks to a cigarette. Junior Diva Cohen said in reference to the word that, "a word is only as powerful as you make it."
The Pride Network will be hosting a professional drag queen show on October 29 at 9 p.m. in the Student Center Theatre. Founder of the Pride Network at Hofstra, Christian Fuscarino, encourages people outside of the LGBT community to attend these events because, "it would be nowhere without straight allies…the African American Civil Rights movement would not be as successful without white allies, it is the exact same thing for the LGBT movement, we will not be successful without the support of the straight community."
(Caity Gilvary/The Chronicle)