Today we spent the first part of the day touring Chicago’s Halstead LGBT Center. It was an extremely eye-opening experience. So many topics and issues concerning the LGBT community were not only addressed in discussion but were also addressed by actions stemming from programs and initiatives implemented within the center to offer free assistance and support. The center offered so many resources (gym facilities, computer labs, theater involvement, culinary training, a hot line, HIV/AIDS testing, art exhibits, counseling sessions, senior citizen socials and assistance, and youth involvement) that it was nearly mind boggling how much of an impact this one building facility was making in the community. I was personally so inspired listening to how many volunteers offered hours of time of service in order to reach out to this often times impoverished and isolated community. Society definitely (and especially politics) does not make it easy for an individual to be openly gay even in this supposedly “progressive” modern day twenty-first century and it is refreshing to know that there are organizations out there that are dedicated to providing a safe and judgment free zone in any way that they can so that the LGBT minority group not only has specific resources available to them but also may experience a sense of compassion and understanding. We also had the privilege of meeting for lunch with a few multicultural students from Loyola University. Not only did we eat some delicious pizza but we also participated in open dialogue about some of the issues concerning both Gonzaga and Loyola both as private Catholic Jesuit institutions. It was very shocking to me that Loyola still managed to greatly lack diversity (as far as the number of students of color in attendance was concerned) even though its location was in the heart of one of the most diverse cities in the nation. The population of the city of Chicago contains 64% African Americans and Latinos. Even though the tuition is extremely high and seemingly unaffordable to the masses, the very familiar statistics (to Gonzaga’s own multicultural student makeup) served as very disappointing. However, I was also baffled by the vast differences existing between such similar institutions (having almost identical mission statements) concerning the incorporation of culture. First, Loyola has distinct cultural studies programs that are designated as an academic major (African American Studies or Latino Studies) whereas Gonzaga does not. Loyola put on a Drag Queen Fashion Show to honor their LGBT Appreciation and Awareness Month that was well received by both faculty members and students and resulted in a large number of attendees…..and for some reason I could not imagine a similar event taking place on Gonzaga’s campus. And last, the Vagina Monologues has been performed multiple times on Loyola’s campus without issues or censorship. The Loyola students were shocked at the fact that Gonzaga’s own desire to bring the Monologues to the stage was so controversial and all around discouraged. The director of Loyola’s Multicultural Center put it best when he said that as a Jesuit institution with a mission statement that promotes the preserving of human dignity in regards to all people…..we must do just that. It is not fair to pick and choose which human dignities we deem appropriate to respect or to support for that matter.
Jordan Love