#MoreThanMarriage forum discusses LGBTQ civil rights
Andy Blom, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, and moderator for the night's panel, calls on an audience member, during Monday evening's Speak Up Speak Out Panel, held in the Park Library Auditorium, Sept. 21, 2015. The event was free and open to the public.
The first Speak Up Speak Out open forum of the year informed students about the fact that there are still ways for people to be legally discriminated against if they are a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
Monday evening, the Park Library Auditorium held #MoreThanMarriage, Central Michigan University’s first Speak Up, Speak Out event of the semester, for the 15th year. Students lined up against the walls, and occupied the limited space in the auditorium. Those who showed up too late had to leave due to an over capacitated space. The topic in discussion was Civil rights and the LGBTQ+ community.
Detroit sophomore Kris Moore arrived to the event after hearing about it from sociology class. She said she was excited about the event because it’s something important to her. “It’s not really something me or my friends bring up and talk about with each other,” Moore said.
Although the recent legalization of same-sex marriage has brought plenty of celebration, it has also shed light on the more complex issues of the LGBTQ+ community in regards to their civil rights, which still remain in question.
Andrew Blom, a facilitator of the SUSO forum, explained the importance of discussing these issues.
“These forums help cultivate a sense of civic engagement,” Blom said. “It creates a space where even if you disagree about an issue, you can do so civically with respect from other people and become more aware of how your position affects other people.”
Michigan does not support discrimination laws inclusive to members of the LGBTQ+ community, therefore allowing housing and jobs to be denied from them.
Sophomore Carissa Martin helped organize SUSO event, and said she hoped the forum would teach students there is still a long way to go in regards to the rights of LGBTQ+ community. “The fight for LGBTQ+ equality is not over yet,” Martin said. “Just because there is same-sex marriage does not mean there is not discrimination occurring. There are still a lot of places where they can be legally discriminated against and we’re hoping to educate people more about that.”
