Keynote speaker discusses equal rights
Ask, and I’ll tell you.
This phrase represents the grassroots effort to raise awareness about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people among communities.
“The thing is we gotta talk, we have to show up for life, each one of us is a messenger,” said Himilce Novas. “This a grassroots effort that has gained momentum and made a difference.”
Novas, an activist, writer and the keynote speaker of Coming Out Week, spoke Tuesday night to an audience of about 75 people in the Bovee University Center Auditorium.
“Queer is not a lifestyle,” Novas said. “It’s one’s identity. It’s who and what you are.”
Novas spoke about the history of the gay rights movement, as well as current political and social issues.
“One of the things I really liked about her presentation was her comparisons of the different struggles in history, the African American struggle, women’s suffrage and the gay lesbian movement,” said Ulana Klymyshyn, director of the Multicultural Education Program. “It’s really a human issue.”
Novas focused part of her presentation on the push for equal marriage rights in the GLBT community.
“Marriage is the central organizing principle in society,” Novas said. “The movement for equal marriage rights must and will continue.”
She talked about the role of different social factors in the gay rights movement. AIDS, in a paradoxical sense, strengthened the political arm of the gay movement, Novas said.
In honor of GLBT History Month, Novas cited notable GLBT community members who contributed to society. She said many people do not know Katharine Lee Bates, who wrote “America the Beautiful,” was a lesbian.
“All of us today know in our bones that it takes great courage to be out anywhere today,” Novas said.
Although Novas was aware of her sexual orientation at a young age, it took her a long time to be comfortable writing fictional stories involving GLBT issues.
She said homophobic groups and religious conservatives often accuse the GLBT community of having a hidden agenda, but Novas said it is not hidden.
“It involves tolerance and equality for all people, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression,” Novas said.
