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University of North Texas Senate : No Gays on homecoming court
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by Susan Marie Kovalinsky | October 5, 2009 at 06:44 am
549 views | 36 Recommendations | 10 comments
A vote conducted at the University of Texas has determined that the homecoming court is to be comprised of "one man, one woman".
The vote came after parents and alumni contributors threatened to pull funds and enrolled students if it were determined that a gay couple could be part of the homecoming court. This is in violation of the university's student regulations format. The student senate of UNT conducted the vote and released the results in a press release.
For now, UNT’s Homecoming Court will retain its traditional heterosexual structure as a result of last night’s Student Senate meeting.The senate voted against a bill to amend the Student Government Association’s bylaws to allow same-sex couples to run for positions on the Homecoming Court.
School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management senator Christopher Passafiume, author of the bill, answered questions about the legislation and promoted it during the discussion.
“All I’m asking for is the acknowledgement of all types of couples,” he said.
The bill generated considerable controversy among students, parents, and alumni.
After the bill was introduced last week, the SGA office received numerous phone calls and e-mails from people threatening to withdraw their support and their students, SGA president Dakota Carter said.
Carter and student senate speaker Drew Robertson reminded the senators several times to speak civilly.
Carter also said the bill would not ultimately have a great impact if passed.
“Homecoming is a popularity contest,” Carter said. “It’s not going to change the world.”
The senate spent an hour in question-and-answer sessions and discussion.
Numerous senators voiced their concerns that the bill would not represent the majority of their constituents.
Others argued that the bill would bring necessary equality and diversity to the Homecoming Court.
Several senators also voiced concerns that passing the bill might cause people to boycott Homecoming events.
Several freshman interns spoke about an informal poll they conducted of 200 students.
They said the results were generally negative, though some senators questioned the methods used.
Five senators voted for the bill, 10 voted against it, and eight abstained.
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Recommendations (36)
Hugh Askew
Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Rhonda J Mangus
North Tonawanda, New York, United States
Yuliya Talmazan
Burnaby, Canada
Scott Wu
Vancouver, Canada
a211423
Clearlake, California, United States
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (10)
at 07:46 on October 5th, 2009
Good for N. Texas! Stand up to the PC machine.
at 09:05 on October 5th, 2009
University of North Texas is public university. Wouldn't this vote be unconstitional as it is discrimination?
at 14:19 on October 5th, 2009
http://www.window.state.tx.us/tpr/tprgg/ed17gga2.txt
If North Texas is the recipient of federally funded research grants, they must adhere to federal regulations regarding descrimination.
I only did a cursory search, but I suspect they do receive federal funds in some form.
at 14:35 on October 5th, 2009
Homecoming is suppose to be an event welcoming parents of current students and former alumni back to their alma mater for a football game, dances, parades, rallies, etc. The king and queen and the court are highly ritualized and should not represent the true spirit of homecoming.
Also, in schools that are not co-eduational, courts can consist of a King and princes or a Queen and princesses.
at 14:39 on October 5th, 2009
Roy,
I don't think they run as couples. It's usually independently. At least all the elections I have seen are that way.
But these alumni and parents want to exclude gay people from paricipating which is discrimination.
at 15:10 on October 5th, 2009
"But these alumni and parents want to exclude gay people from paricipating which is discrimination"
No, i think it said "gay couples". As Roy said nothing to stop a "gay" man, or a lesbian from running for either king or queen, respectively.
Refusing to change the rules to keep some from throwing a hissy fit is hardly discrimination.
at 15:13 on October 5th, 2009
Its ironic that this is all coming out when Obama plans to meet with the gay community this coming weekend. I wonder if it will come up in conversation.
at 09:54 on October 8th, 2009
I agree with Gordon
at 11:54 on November 20th, 2009
As much as the gay and lesbian community would like this vote to be about gay rights, this isn't a gay rights issue nor is it a discrimination. It is about establishing a defined role for Homecoming King (a man - didn't say they had to be straight or gay) and a Queen (a woman - also not dictating sexual preference). What the standard is saying is there will not be a Homecoming King & King or Queen & Queen.
Here is my deeper question for the gay and lesbian community: do you want to be fully intigrated into American society as equals or do you want to stand out as unique? I personally don't care a person's sexuality because I don't care to know what goes on behind anyone's closed doors other than my own. What I do care about is being American. If the ultimate goal is to exist as equals as with anyone else, then I support your cause; however, if the goal is to draw attention and make a spectical or mockery of what most people determine as traditional values, then you lose me and my support.
In my Sunday School class, we had a discussion about an openly gay person being in the role of leadership of the church and do we support it or not. Being in the minority, I said I would support it gladly if the leader was teaching us living life through Christ and kept his personal matters to himself/herself and not use the pulpit as a platform for agenda. Naturally, it was pointed out that the Bible says homosexuality is a sin (cannot dispute there are verses that say this). My counter is to this day I would rather have that gay leader than have a leader who is straight and commits adultery because that, in my opinion, is far more damaging to a congregation.
As far as same-sex marriage, well, you will find me to be anti-Federal law on this as I am a hardcore States Right proponent. If any state makes it legal, great for that state. If my state made it legal, then so be it.
Sorry all, I went way off course!
at 00:36 on November 25th, 2009
CMON - A public College Campus has a chance to vote on equal rights (implied rights in the U.S. Constitution). 15.5% show up and 58% vote against it. The United States is going backwards.