300 Rally For Gay Equality

Approximately 300 people attended a rally for gay equality yesterday afternoon at the Law School's Harkness Commons.

Professors and members of Law School student groups discussed the legal status of gays in America at the rally, which was sponsored by the Law School's committee on Gay, Bisexual and Lesbian Legal Issues.

"This is not only a celebration of tolerance," said Professor of Law Philip B. Heymann. "It's also a celebration of courage--the courage to be different, and of what is certainly going to be the next legal frontier in America--the frontier of equality."

In 40 to 50 states, gays can be denied housing or employment "Just because they're gay," said third-year law student Bruce Deming. And, he said, homosexuals can legally be denied custody of their children in one in three states.

The speakers stressed the role Harvard Law School students can play in helping gays to obtain equal rights.

"Things are changing, and we can all be a part of that change," Deming said.

"I'm not completely convinced we can do a wholelot to change the way people think," saidfirst-year law students Ronald Sullivan. "But withthis legal talent we can change the way peoplebehave."

All-Out Effort

Third-year law student Bruce Spiva saidstudents "must pledge today to attack homophobianot only in the classroom, but in boardrooms andif necessary in the courtroom."

Speakers also called on the gay and minoritycommunities to unite in order to combatoppression.

"We should be on the frontier here at Harvardin letting people know that we're in the struggletogether," said Sullivan, a member of the BlackLaw Students Association.

"Our communities can work together and it canbe very positive," said Guy Wallace of the Studentfor Disability Rights. Wallace said the gaycommunity "played an integral part" in Congresspassage of the Americans with Disabilities Actlast year.

Darryl D. Chiang, a first-year law students andmember of the Asian American Law StudentsAssociation, said that Asian-Americans sharecommon problems with the gay and lesbiancommunity.

"Homophobia is an accepted prejudice," Chiangsaid. "Similarly, it seems like an acceptedprejudice to Japan-bash and attack AsianAmericans."

Chiang said that both the gay andAsians-American communities are "forgottenminorities" who need to fight for attention asdisenfranchised groups.

The speakers also urged gays to defendthemselves against acts of anti-gay violence,which Deming said are increasing by 30 percenteach year.

"If you don't want to carry weapons, use yourhands and your body to fight back," said KirstenDodge, a third-year law student.

The rally was part of this year's Bisexual, Gayand Lesbian Awareness Days

"I'm not completely convinced we can do a wholelot to change the way people think," saidfirst-year law students Ronald Sullivan. "But withthis legal talent we can change the way peoplebehave."

All-Out Effort

Third-year law student Bruce Spiva saidstudents "must pledge today to attack homophobianot only in the classroom, but in boardrooms andif necessary in the courtroom."

Speakers also called on the gay and minoritycommunities to unite in order to combatoppression.

"We should be on the frontier here at Harvardin letting people know that we're in the struggletogether," said Sullivan, a member of the BlackLaw Students Association.

"Our communities can work together and it canbe very positive," said Guy Wallace of the Studentfor Disability Rights. Wallace said the gaycommunity "played an integral part" in Congresspassage of the Americans with Disabilities Actlast year.

Darryl D. Chiang, a first-year law students andmember of the Asian American Law StudentsAssociation, said that Asian-Americans sharecommon problems with the gay and lesbiancommunity.

"Homophobia is an accepted prejudice," Chiangsaid. "Similarly, it seems like an acceptedprejudice to Japan-bash and attack AsianAmericans."

Chiang said that both the gay andAsians-American communities are "forgottenminorities" who need to fight for attention asdisenfranchised groups.

The speakers also urged gays to defendthemselves against acts of anti-gay violence,which Deming said are increasing by 30 percenteach year.

"If you don't want to carry weapons, use yourhands and your body to fight back," said KirstenDodge, a third-year law student.

The rally was part of this year's Bisexual, Gayand Lesbian Awareness Days