Rainbow Alliance seeks to provide more perspective

To the editor:

Many commentaries have recently been posted in Speak Out regarding the activities provided at Southeast Missouri State University as part of National Coming Out Week. The Rainbow Alliance, the sponsoring organization, would like to address some of the issues and, more importantly, to clarify our purpose and choices of events.

Throughout the week our organization offered four events: a religious panel discussion, a sexual orientation-affection panel discussion, a simulation of the coming-out process that many nonheterosexual people experience, and a night of performances by both female and male impersonators. Our attempt was to provide fuller understanding through a variety of perspectives on the experiences of people with various sexual and affectional preferences.

We believe that all individuals are deserving of equal opportunities and rights regardless of their sexual orientation. We believe that educational programming and efforts will help to diminish the fear and hatred of sexual minorities. These efforts are essential in creating safe space for people of all backgrounds and cultures so that all may feel welcome and worthy as individuals.

Regarding the religious nature of many Speak Out comments, the Rainbow Alliance is hesitant to speak as if it knows the mind of God. We cannot say whether any of our actions or choices -- sexual or not -- are right or wrong. We do, however, hope to continue to grow as an organization and as a member of the university and Southeast Missouri communities.

ART MATTHEWS

Faculty Supervisor

Rainbow Alliance

Southeast Missouri State

University

Cape Girardeau