Long Road To Pride Centre At UNBC

Sunday, September 26, 2010 03:56 AM

Future home of the Pride Centre in the NUGSS building on the Prince George campus

Prince George, B.C.- While the official opening is still weeks away, the University of Northern B.C. now has an on-campus Pride Centre.

PrideUNBC President, Marli Liebovitch, says the centre is meant as a safe place for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) students. It will offer peer support services and UNBC's Bachelor of Social Work program will offer two practicum positions in the centre. As well, Liebovitch says, "Anyone can come and visit the Pride Centre, you don't have to be gay, you don't have to be transgendered, all you have to do is have an open mind -- if you would like to learn more by asking questions, that's what we're here for."

The road 'here' has been a rocky one...

The PrideUNBC club has been working for the past year to establish the centre. After being told by UNBC that there was no space left in the university, itself, Liebovitch says the group was directed to the Northern Undergraduate Students Society (NUGSS).

Armed with a 700-name petition, Liebovitch says the club submitted a proposal to NUGSS for space in its building back in July. She says there was some back-and-forth about the proposal's details and just hours before the Pride club was to present the proposal to the NUGSS board on August 17th, she says she received an email advising the decision would be made in-camera. A few days later, Liebovitch says, she received word the application had been unanimously denied.

Undeterred, Liebovitch booked a room in the NUGSS building from September 7th through to September 9th and held a 'sleep-over'. "And we just had a large group come in over the course of those two days -- probably over 100 to 150 students -- to learn more about the situation."

The sit-in ended with a rally on the 9th that saw a group of 60 students march through the halls of UNBC. "And we just basically told them (the NUGSS board), this is a group of students that is in need of a Pride Centre, this is the large support group that we have and we would like you to look at our proposal again."

On September 17th, the NUGSS board listened to the group's presentation and, this time, unanimously endorsed the proposal with some conditions. Liebovitch says she has spent the past week meeting those conditions: installing a phone line, setting up security with a panic button in the room, and submitting a policy manual, which she expects will be finished by the end of today. In addition, while PrideUNBC has been a university club, it is registering to be a B.C. society with its own constitution and bylaws. Once registered, the group will then sign a tenant lease agreement with NUGSS and the Pride Centre will be official. (NUGSS has allowed PrideUNBC to book the room and use it in the interim)

Liebovitch says NUGSS has really came on-side since the rally and has been offering all kinds of assistance as PrideUNBC works out the final bumps in the road.

Liebovitch says it was time for UNBC to live up to its motto, "The motto is something like 'Take Every Man as They Come', and to have a Pride Centre really shows that this is something UNBC is taking to heart," she says. "Almost every single other university has a Pride Centre, even smaller universities in the area, so it's really great that UNBC finally has this."　

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Posted on Sunday, September 26, 2010 03:56 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Eagleone on September 26 2010 5:03 AM

I disagree with this completely. All students are forced to pay into NUGGS and as such NUGGS should not be taking social positions for special interest groups with its funding.

I think the promotion of an unclean lifestyle should not at all be promoted in public buildings. Its morally wrong to allow these people to preach in our public university their religion of sodomization and such. Its a moral outrage. If they want to do this stuff in private that's one thing, but to be promoting it in our public university is wrong.

First they took the Christmas tree away, then they went after the cross, and now they want to replace it with a religion of confused individuals preaching moral acceptance to perverted lifestyles... in our public institutions.

Posted by: gus on September 26 2010 6:19 AM

Ah yes, the intolerance of Christians raising its ugly head ....

Shame on society for providing those who are born a bit different from the others to get support at a time in their lives when they are first away from home and can use some help from those who understand them.

Posted by: IAM on September 26 2010 7:04 AM

I am glad that all students are forced to pay into NUGGS. Thank God that UNBC came to their senses and stepped up to their responsibility.

It will be a wonderful day when bright minds don't get stuck in such places as "confused individuals preaching moral acceptance to perverted lifestyles".

UNBC did not make it easy and kudo's to all involved. Good people can do the right thing!
Great news to hear on a Sunday before church.....God is good!!!!!

Posted by: PrinceGeorge on September 26 2010 7:15 AM

I had to look up the definition of LGBTQ as I was not sure what it stood for. Now I know. To each his/her own. I for one don't feel threatened by something which is different as I am very strong in my own convictions.

This attitude has always served me very well. This is supposed to be a free country as long as the rights of others are respected! Let's act accordingly!

Posted by: onemansthoughts on September 26 2010 7:37 AM

umm, We are supposed to go to school to study. Not think about sex all day.

Posted by: seamutt on September 26 2010 8:39 AM

What would happen if a white straight anglo saxton male center was set up?

Posted by: Ispy on September 26 2010 9:55 AM

seamutt- they'd be sitting around watching TV, scratching,high-fiving each other & drinking Bud. The room would never be clean, be full of pizza boxes and would smell like old socks. :)

Actually some non-white,non-anglo,non-male person would complain because the non-straight people (according to societal norms) have already got their room.Let's not make an issue out of a non-issue,we're not all the same and to each their own.
I don't appreciate the JW's coming to my house,trying to sell me their religion-if I was interested I'd have found you! maybe we can get them a room too!

Posted by: gus on September 26 2010 10:46 AM

"umm, We are supposed to go to school to study. Not think about sex all day."

I am not quite sure where you read that into the purpose of the centre. However, as you will notice it says: "Anyone can come and visit the Pride Centre, .... all you have to do is have an open mind -- if you would like to learn more by asking questions, that's what we're here for."

Let me start by enlightening you a bit about the difference between a university and a school.

A school is set up to teach its students the way things have been accepted by the general population.

A university adds research and community engagement to that teaching role. But, even more than that, good universities play a major role in shaping a democratic, civilised, inclusive society.

The sign of a good leader is that they lead by example. In my view, the initial unanimous reaction by the undergraduate student society was a total failure to understand the purpose of not only its association but also the university they are part of.

Posted by: daisybee on September 26 2010 10:46 AM

Agreed, Seamutt...What would happen?
As long as "special interest groups" continue to see themselves as special and different then everyone else, racism and prejudice will be alive and well. Yes, we are all different. Yes, we have different religious, cultures, and sexual orientations....but perhaps it's time to stop focusing on what makes and keeps us different as opposed to celebrating what makes us the same. We are all people...Why can't we all be viewed as such instead of being viewed as a lesbian, gay, bisexual or what have you.
You want to be gay? Be gay. There are millions of straight people who live without special centers, parades and the like. Stop acting like you are different and perhaps the world will stop treating you differently.

Posted by: Eagleone2 on September 26 2010 11:00 AM

I agreee with this completely. All students are privileged to pay into NUGGS and as such NUGGS should take social positions for many groups with its funding.

I think the promotion of an accepting lifestyle should be promoted in public buildings. Its moral to allow all people to be in our public university regarless of their religion and such. Its moral. If they want to do this stuff (be inclusive and understanding) in private that's one thing, but to be promoting it in our public university is a great thing too.

Christmas trees, crosses, and religions of confused individuals preaching moral acceptance to inclusive lifestyles... in our public institutions. I think it is GREAT

Posted by: RUEZ on September 26 2010 11:01 AM

Unclean lifestyle? Hey eagleone, the 1800's called, they're missing their bigot.

Posted by: gus on September 26 2010 12:41 PM

"As long as "special interest groups" continue to see themselves as special and different then everyone else, racism and prejudice will be alive and well"

LOL ….. Can you please read your statement again and test it against the realities of the world. Try India-Bangladesh; Somalia; Chad, Uganda, Congo, Sudan, Israel-Lebanon; Iraq; Jugoslavia;

Now try this statement

As long as society does not recognize and even celebrate the diversity of its people, their cultures and social distinctions, we will continue to promote prejudices in clandestine ways until they explode on the unsuspecting in revolutionary fashion.

You believe yours and I will believe mine because neither of us will convince the other of their beliefs in this forum.

Come to the University and lets have a discussion on Civics.

Posted by: gus on September 26 2010 12:42 PM

Eagleone and Julia Serup are on the same page.....

Posted by: gus on September 26 2010 1:04 PM

"There are millions of straight people who live without special centers, parades and the like."

That is a very astute observation. Quite wrong though!!! LOL

millions of people, whether straight or crooked have parades ... the Macey's parade, the Santa Claus parade, the Elks parade, the Rose Bowl Parade, Washington's birthday parade, Calgary Stampede parade, Easter parade, May Day parade, etc. etc ....

People love parades ..... ANY excuse is a good excuse to have a parade. The new Love parades are some of the biggest in the world ......

Remember, this is a club we are speaking about that is "renting" an office in an Association's space

I think ALL clubs are built around special interests. I oppose the term "special interest" getting a negative connotation.

I think ALL clubs are built around special interests. I oppose the term "special interest" getting a negative undertone. It is a slippery downhill slope to outlawing such groups.

Posted by: Plainspeaker on September 26 2010 1:37 PM

I think the homophobia and ignorance shown in some of these comments provide the biggest argument for exactly why this centre is needed. Whether well intentioned but naive assumptions that gay and straight are perfectly so no "specialcase" treatment need apply or equal or outright extremist religious bigotry, the reality of gay life is higlighted as unsafe and unacceptable. Universities are supposed to enlighten students and prepare them to be active citizens in their society and skilled professionals in the discipline of their choice. Too often, an equal playing field for acquiring these aspects of a university education are denied and racism, sexism and homphobia pass unchecked in classrooms which contribute to excessively high drop out rates for certain groups of students. Students find the colour of their skin, their ancestral heritage, their sexual orientation are subjects for disrespect, taunting and "jokes." In an ideal world, one day, maybe we won't need pride or safe places on campus. But,for now, no university is an equal opportunity educator. I applaud UNBC, the Undergradaute group who repealed their initial response, and PRIDE UNBC and all their supporters for bringing UNBC to the forefront of leadership on a critical social issue. It is ironic that UNBC, in Prince George with its legacy of redneck frontier mentality, achieved this when other universities are still in the dark ages. Well done!

Posted by: dnakamura on September 26 2010 1:40 PM

NUGGS has a responsibility to serve EVERYONE at UNBC. "Unclean"? "Perverted"? If you are using these words to support your case Eagleone, you can also include the straight population in the mix.

Posted by: chrislivingdowntown on September 26 2010 1:42 PM

No I am not gay but I think gays should have a place to go and meet. All you crazy Christians can go eat crow as far as I am concerned.

Posted by: RUEZ on September 26 2010 2:04 PM

You know lumping Christians into your hatred is no better than eagleone calling gays unclean. There are a lot of Christians that are accepting of people regardless of their sexual orientation.

Posted by: seamutt on September 26 2010 3:13 PM

"A university adds research and community engagement to that teaching role. But, even more than that, good universities play a major role in shaping a democratic, civilised, inclusive society."

You are kidding right.

Posted by: daretoknow on September 26 2010 3:24 PM

@ seamutt and daisybee: there are special male centers and they're called boardrooms, churches, judge's chambers, etc. the patriarchy's been alive and abusive since before time out of mind, and it's time to reclaim the power that they've usurped from the rest of us. there is no official white history month to offset black history month because every month is white, hetero-sexual, able-bodied, protestant history month. (most history text books are, too, for that matter.) when social and economic privileges stop going to the kyriarchy, then the minorities, who are divided and conquered but would otherwise comprise the majority, will no longer need safe spaces. until then, it is the responsibility of social justice activists who see the value in all people to make room for others to rise to the positions of power that have been entitled to the aforementioned men since prehistory. also, to clarify some other misconceptions, nugss is not doing anything to financially support the centre, they only offered unused space. and, unbc was one of the last universities in the dark ages, i.e. 23 other canadian universities that we know of have had pride centres, some for more than 20 years. @eagleone, your ignorance is showing, not only about egalitarianism but about your own "special interest" on campus; not only do you get a silly dead tree to decorate, but there are crosses and bibles in excess. funny to note that they were considering giving pride the inter-faith chaplaincy room, since the religions got a new, bigger space. wouldn't you have just died? at least you'll go to heaven.... for the climate, hell for the company

Posted by: hood rich on September 26 2010 3:45 PM

Is Prince George/ Northern BC turning a corner?

Posted by: marli on September 26 2010 4:17 PM

I hope PG is turning a corner....

just to address something, NUGSS is not funding a Pride Centre, NUGSS is allowing space allocation for a Pride Centre space to be created in their building because they recognize a need to have a safe space on campus for LGBTQ students (as the need can be seen from some of the above comments)

All are welcome to enter the room as long they come with an open mind. Questions can be answered. We are promoting a safe space on campus with resources to the student and PG community. That is it.

Posted by: seamutt on September 26 2010 5:26 PM

daretoknow wow!

Posted by: Eagleone on September 26 2010 7:14 PM

opps I don't know how I had my post go up twice... weird. sorry about that. Wasn't trying to do anything funny.

Posted by: Eagleone on September 26 2010 7:20 PM

Well I read all the posts and I disagree with over half of them. Anyone that thinks students need to be taught about the merits of two men humping each other in a public building at the cost of everyone's tuition... we aren't going to see eye to eye on that one. No surprise that Gus is the biggest supporter.

Posted by: Eagleone2 on September 26 2010 7:22 PM

it wasn't the same post... and not the same views. you have inspired me to see with two eagle eyes instead of the one you use. Bigotry inspires me to view the world from a much different place than the one from which it originally stems - thanks.

Posted by: Eagleone2 on September 26 2010 7:31 PM

Well I read all the posts and I agree with over half of them. Anyone that thinks students are being taught about the "merits of two men humping each other in a public building" probably has not been privileged enough to be educated and pay tuition... we aren't going to see eye to eye on that one. I'm happy that Gus is the biggest supporter.

Posted by: opinion10 on September 26 2010 8:15 PM

Un-Friggin-Real!! A bunch of select people want their own little meeting spot! Sorry "Rainbow People" but face the truth. To me, keep this kind of sh%t out of the media!!!!

Posted by: gus on September 26 2010 8:23 PM

I am seeing a parallel universe emerging which is the mirror image of the other ... :-)

Posted by: marli on September 26 2010 9:50 PM

Posted by: Eagleone on September 26 2010 11:28 PM

OK Its good to proof read sometimes... because I can't even understand my own gibberish on my last post. It shouldn't be part of the school experience is what I was trying to say... not part of public funding anyways. I don't agree with the agenda and will never see eye to eye with those who do.

If someone doesn't agree with an agenda... that in no way means people aren't going to be safe. It means they choose to think for themselves and not agree.

The argument of a 'safespace' is not genuine. Its an indoctrination center designed to convince confused people out on their own for the first time that experimenting in unclean and unhealthy relationships is normal. Its about getting them while they are vulnerable and being subsidized with our tuition and tax dollars to do this.

If the Church or a pot cafe wanted to set up shop in the school these same people would be all over it denouncing it as a violation of their rights to freedom from indoctrination sponsored by the school. And they would have a good argument to make. Lets not all be hypocrites and we should say it like it is.

This kind of activity should in no way be seen to be endorsed by the school, no matter if people feel left out or not. The school should be upholding a higher moral standard of norm than that.

Posted by: Eagleone on September 26 2010 11:30 PM

Whats next a prostitute hook up center sponsored by UNBC tuition fees? What would really be the difference between the two other then the gender combination's.

Posted by: detoe43 on September 26 2010 11:44 PM

Daretoknow, you had a great post going until the end. Cutting down Christian
customs only sinks you to the level of those you are speaking against. I do agree
with the idea of focussing on what makes us similar, too much negativity & stereo
typing. If a group of people want a safe place to meet more power to them. If it
were my son or daughter, sexual orientation
would not be an issue.Not having a safe environment to meet & converse with like minded people would be.

Posted by: supertech on September 26 2010 11:58 PM

Dr. Laura said it right; gays and transvestites are 'deviant'. If you deviate from the normal social standards, you are deviant. Why don't they accept that? Can't they read a dictionary?

People are male and female, just like almost every species on the planet,to reproduce and replenish the population. Of course there are those who believe that trees and animals are gay. Not only are they deviant, they're lacking sound judgement.

Posted by: lahdeedah87 on September 27 2010 12:43 AM

I am so ecstatic to see that PrideUNBC finally got their room. I'm really proud of UNBC and NUGSS for their part in this. But more so I'm very very very proud of all the men and women who kept fighting to have this safe place established. :D

I'm really confused by the comments about PrideUNBC promoting a deviant or perverted lifestyle. I understand that their are many, many people who speak in ignorance, especially surrounding topics of LGBTQ equality. However, how on earth do they suppose a support center is going to pervert or indoctrinate anyone? Perhaps they are removed from the reality of this world? Maybe its the same mindset that believes it can 'fix' people through prayer?

I really wish more people would keep their minds and hearts open. I for one support the efforts of PrideUNBC wholeheartedly. Well done everyone! Keep up the hard work!

Posted by: marli on September 27 2010 8:58 AM

Eagleone....i just want to let you know, since I'm the President of PrideUNBC (a deviant, pushing my deviant morals, by your standard), that there is a chapel on campus that has two rooms allocated in the university (the university that didn't have space to house an LGBTQ support centre). I never once protested against the space allocation for the chapel on my quest to have a Pride Centre put on campus.

NUGSS has a bar and 5 other study rooms, one radio station room, one PGPIRG room. The space for a Pride Centre is the only thing the university is renting. I'm pretty sure the 50 students of the Pride Centre pay enough NUGSS fees in a year to cover the cost of renting that space.

As for the funding involved. We provide services and only charge the cost of our own volunteer's time, no government funding has been used or appropriated.

We are not promoting any lifestyle, only promoting a safe space where people don't have to hear the rants of someone like you, calling their sexual orientation or life decisions a deviant lifestyle.

Posted by: Howrd_B_Stern on September 27 2010 9:14 AM

Someone actually quoted Dr. Laura as a defense? That is too funny. Kind of like quoting Hitler, who was a Christian by the way.

I have to say that in my bible thumping days I probably would have been on here slamming gays and the like. I guess I saw the proverbial light when I realized that views on certain topics made the church folks squirm a little too much. I then eventually became a social pariah to those same church folks who preach love on Sunday and will screw over their best friend on Monday. I think it's called hypocrisy. Don't get me wrong. There are a lot of red letter Christians out there who really care and are the best people you could ever know. Sadly though, they are the minority and probably a big reason churches splinter so much.

Congratulations PrideUNBC on your new centre. This from a former bible thumping redneck.

Did someone send a note to Fred Phelps yet? I'd love for him to come to PG one day.

Posted by: gus on September 27 2010 9:31 AM

"Laura said it right; gays and transvestites are 'deviant'. If you deviate from the normal social standards, you are deviant."

Sociologically speaking, what makes a deviant depends on the perspective of the viewer. You and madam laura might consider a lesbian/homosexual deviant, but there are others who would say that they fall within the social norm.

Are those who do not believe in a God deviants just because they are less than 50% of the population within a community?

Where the lines are drawn differs from community to community. The boundary judgements belong to the judgmental dimension, values. It is very rare to find people in a community with the same precise set of values.

In fact, it is not so important to determine what a deviant is but who has the power to label someone a deviant.

Society is changing all the time. However social change comes about, by definition whoever is first is a deviate.

Invention, discovery and innovation are all social deviations at first. The classical example is Galileo who was declared a heretic by the Catholic church for suggesting that the earth is not the centre of the universe.

The concern with deviance is not a question of definitions but one of power. Those who call lesbians/homosexuals deviants are exerting their power by what is essentially not unlike bullying since they are using the term in a derogatory sense rather than a social science sense.

Posted by: crazylegshinch on September 27 2010 11:50 AM

Good job on fighting for the pride centre and getting it done!

I'm really not interested into wading into the bigotry and the "they shouldn't push social agendas and indoctrination", used as a preface to push other people's social agendas. I will say that if you believe this shouldn't be 'part of the school' because we are there to learn, then we should close down the pub, all the clubs, the interfaith chaplaincy, (what would happen if they wanted to build a church on campus, guess what, it's been there for many years already!) and everything that isn't sitting in a lecture hall and listening.

We should probably stop promoting university as a place of new ideas and free thought to, because we obviously don't want that. People might get it in there heads that being gay is okay long enough to stop preaching about how unclean and perverted it is, get out of their own personal closets.

I'm glad we have UNBC and things are moving along. Maybe in time and with some higher education catching on, we can shrug off the city's reputation of being a podunk hick town, and show hot great a community we can be.

Posted by: Harbinger on September 27 2010 2:53 PM

Just a matter of time before UNBC has a centre for "left handed albino dwarves with a club foot?" I will wait. If every one is special, then no one is. Right?

Posted by: marli on September 27 2010 4:38 PM

it's not a matter of feeling of special. it's a matter of obtaining resources pertinent to me and being able to hold my gf's hand in an environment that is not judgmental

hey but at least Harbinger's statement seems to be supporting the idea that being gay isn't a choice, and something that you are born with.

Posted by: Eagleone on September 27 2010 5:05 PM

So if someone is born straight, then can they start up a club next door with NUGGS sponsorship for promotion of the straight lifestyle? I wonder if LGBTQ people would find the kosher... or would that be hate talk to have a counter support group to counsel people on the merits of a straight lifestyle? While we are on the topic of bigoted hypocrites anyways....

Posted by: MWMani on September 27 2010 9:34 PM

Good for them. I support this 100%. Anyone who thinks being a part of the queer community is 'unclean' or 'perverse' or is some kind of 'affront to God', a good number of Americans are gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transexual, and this great country is coming around to equality. America love it, or leave it.

Posted by: dnakamura on September 27 2010 10:00 PM

Us straight folks don't need to start up a club because we make up the majority. We didn't have to fight the system in order to to do things that straight folks take for granted...like the right to marry, be able to put our spouse on our benefit plan, foster and adopt children, feel safe being ourselves in public and not fear retaliation and judgement. No one would verbally attack a straight person for who they are. We have it good compared to GLBTQ. The Pride Centre, Pride Parade are venues where people can congregate, feel safe and be themselves. The straight population have many many many places to do this. So complaining about the Pride Centre is petty. No one is saying that you must go there and hang out.

Posted by: gus on September 28 2010 1:58 AM

"So if someone is born straight, then can they start up a club next door with NUGGS sponsorship for promotion of the straight lifestyle?"

Yup ..... just make your case and go for it .... that's how it works .....

Posted by: Howrd_B_Stern on September 28 2010 9:05 AM

"So if someone is born straight, then can they start up a club next door with NUGGS sponsorship for promotion of the straight lifestyle? I wonder if LGBTQ people would find the kosher..."

Find a dictionary, look up male hetrosexual hegemony. Study it, think about it.