Prof speaks at BGLAD forum

Few people in the audience could name three minority leaders in the gay community when asked during the keynote speech of Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Awareness Days Wednesday night at the Annenberg Center. The speech, given by Hampshire College Sociology Professor Margaret Cerullo, covered a wide range of topics on gay and minority rights issues. Cerullo said the message of her speech was "social activism leads to social change." As a student of the University in the 1960s, Cerullo recalled the lack of diversity on campus. She compared her experiences at the University to the "increase of minority students" she sees on today's campus. In her speech, Cerullo explained that "campuses are one of the places where the beginnings of the possibilities of a multicultural community" can exist. She said she wants people to interact and try to understand one another. "Help one another across the chasm of ignorance and fear," she said. Cerullo's theory -- "politics of disruption and disturbance" -- calls for people to come out and reveal themselves. "We cannot pursue the idea, 'if you don't ask, we won't tell,'" Cerullo said. "Risk of exposure is a risk we have to take," she added admitting her belief is not the popular one. "Her politics are definitely not that of the entire queer community," said first year College of General Studies student Anthony Putz, who attended the speech. But, he added that "[Cerullo's speech has] shown to me the amount of work that still needs to be done and that things can't stop here." Cerullo also said there is a "culture clash" which exists between the gay community and other minority communities. She said this clash, incited by the right wing, is a major problem in the gay, lesbian and bisexual rights movement. The Hampshire professor added the right wing makes a distinction between minority rights and gay rights. She said this causes a "polarization" between these groups. "The right wing has unrelentingly and exhaustively depleted our energy and resources," she said while explaining activists efforts to establish gay rights. She also stressed that "the priority of the movement" should be "to demand urban policy?for the future of AIDS funding and AIDS services." Many students attending the speech felt the discussion was worthwhile. One member of the audience said Cerullo's wide variety of topics was "most satisfying." "She touched upon so many issues, rather than beating one [issue] to death," said College junior Malika Levy. "I agree with her in that the assimilation policy is unacceptable," Levy added. "We need to question occurrences within the gay movement itself." Levy said he thinks BGLAD week was on the whole very successful. "[The Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Association] did a great job," Levy said.