Campus raises the rainbow flag

The rainbow flag swayed in the gentle breeze on a mild Thursday in support of the LGBT student community at Buffalo State College.

This is the first time in the school's history that a public show of support for this community has been made by the college's administration. The flag will remain on display in the quad between the library and student union for the rest of October.

"I've been here since 2005 and I personally have never seen or heard anything of this magnitude happen on campus," said Ed Manz, the student whose initiative led to this historic event.

"I just thought one day ‘Why can't we put the flag up?'" he said. "So I spoke to Tammy... and about a week later she said ‘I need a flag.'"

Tammy Kresge is the assistant director of Health Promotions for the Weigel Health Center.

While the group was gathered and others in the quad were watching, a male passer-by expressed opposition to the event.

"Oh, you're going to put it next to the American flag," he said.

Immediately supporters prepared to defend the flag raising.

"Gays are Americans too," said Kayla Maryles, graduate intern for Health Promotions through the Weigel Health Center.

Dean of Students Charles Kenyon said he supports students in their progress and efforts to reach out to others. He said this event is just one example of action from the school to promote the Compact for a Civil and Caring Academic Community.

"I think it's wonderful to see the rainbow flag flying high in the quad," he said.

Kenyon is not alone. Other students who had gathered are equally proud of the administration for this public display and think it will reflect positively on the school.

Supporter Amelia Imagna said the flag stands for equality and shows that people can be whoever they want and have no reason to hide.

"I think it's a huge step for gaining the acceptance of people on campus," Manz said. "If I were... a prospective student coming to campus, an LGBT student, and I saw they put up the pride flag, I would know they must have some sort of acceptance of our community on their campus."

In honor of Coming Out Week, Health Promotions held programs in support of the LGBT community, which included the Ally Photo Project and a Safe Zone training workshop. 

Maryles said that the premise of the Ally Photo Project was to reach out to not only the LGBT community but to the campus as a whole.

Through this project Maryles said she wants to create a "visible showcase of the support here on this campus" and will be doing so by compiling the photos taken into an online scrapbook on the Health Promotions Facebook page and creating a collage connecting photos to students.

The Safe Zone program was a two-hour training presentation given by James Bowman, special populations outreach coordinator for Wellness Education Services, from the University at Buffalo.

A Safe Zone is a program to provide a visible support network of volunteers for LGBT and other students seeking information and assistance regarding sexual orientation.

Theworkshop was designed to open up participants to the basics of the LGBT community and to create awareness and understanding.

"Once you are considered ‘Safe Zone' trained, you get a card with the rainbow symbol to display as an understanding supporter," Maryles said.

She also said she thinks theflag raisingis remarkable for the campus because it will become another visible support system to help students recognize that they have staff support and approval.

Jennifer Waters can be reached by email at waters.record@live.com.