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News :: Protest Activity |
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Photos from "Conservative Coming Out Day" |
Current rating: 0 |
by wayward
Email: wedwards (nospam) uiuc.edu (unverified!) |
21 Sep 2005
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There was a "conservative coming out day" held Sept. 21 at noon on the quad. Most people in attendance were protesters. |
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Conservative students held a "coming out" day September 21 on the quad at noon. Most of the attendees were actually protesters, though there was someone staffing a booth for the Orange and Blue Observer. There was an "affirmative action giveaway" raffle to provide free handguns to women and homosexuals. (Note: I wish I was joking.) |
This work is in the public domain |
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Re: Photos from "Conservative Coming Out Day" |
by wayward
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
22 Sep 2005
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BTW, it looks like a previous comment was accidentally deleted. We're sorry, and if it's possible to repost it, we'd be appreciative. |
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Re: Photos from "Conservative Coming Out Day" |
by Meg
blue2 (nospam) net66.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
23 Sep 2005
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Great response to the O & B! Great photos!
Thanks to all who went! |
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Background on the demonstration |
by pissed with a purse
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
24 Sep 2005
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On Wednesday, September 21st, the Orange and Blue Observer and the Illini Conservative Union will be holding "Conservative Coming Out Day" on the Quad. This event will include a gun raffle and testimonials from conservative students about the oppression they allegedly face because of their conservative views.
The event will include a fund-raising raffle to provide free handguns to women and homosexuals. Their own publicity states, "Affirmative Action giveaway. Women and homosexuals specially invited to enter...'One for every purse.'"
(Quoted from a publicity flyer received via email from the Illini Conservative Union to the Orange and Blue Observer listserv. September 16, 2005.)
People were invited to attend a demonstration against “Conservative Coming Out Day” and to wear black shirts in mourning for all of the women, minorities, and LGBT persons who are still the victims or bigotry and intolerance.
More Information about Conservative Coming Out Day below:
Throughout the Illini Conservative Union's correspondence for the planning of Wednesday's Conservative Coming Out Day, they repeatedly disparaged women and homosexuals:
--- "Sales will support the FREE giveaway of two double-barreled .22
caliber derringers, perfect for a lady's purse. Only women and homosexuals will be eligible to win (anything that carries a purse)." Email from Leo Buchignani of the Illini Conservative Union to the Orange and Blue Observer listserv. September 6, 2005.
--- "The derringer giveaway is now open to everyone. However we are
still issuing a special invitation to women and homosexuals, because obviously a derringer belongs in a purse." Email from Leo Buchignani of the Illini Conservative Union to the Orange and Blue Observer listserv. September 16, 2005.
The Illini Conservative Union has chosen to intentionally mock National Coming Out Day, which is held every October and organized by PRIDE and LGBT groups across the country. National Coming Out Day is designed to encourage and support LGBT persons as they come to terms with their sexual orientation.
"I think the important thing to emphasize here is that we support their
right to free speech and thus their right to hold this event. However, we find the way they're doing it to be disrespectful. They're making a mockery of the coming out process, which can be extremely difficult for people, and they're using old-fashioned generalizations to label women and gay people. Nothing productive or meaningful is accomplished," Feminist Majority executive advisor Melissa Murphy said.
"We're not trying to organize some super-PC crusade in response to what
they're doing, but there is a certain level of decency that is not being upheld in their event. Grouping women and gay people together as purse-carrying objects of femininity is neither honest nor funny -- at least not to someone over the age of 12. Come to any meeting of PRIDE or Feminist Majority, and you'll immediately see that generalizations like this one don't hold an ounce of credibility," PRIDE publicity director Jon Monteith said.
The Illini Conservative Union also plans to deride the University of Illinois' affirmative action policy by "evaluating" each potentially winning raffle ticket instead of choosing a winner randomly.
--- "In a process analogous to university admissions policy, the derringers will be awarded based on a holistic evaluation of the applicant, taking into consideration gender, sexual orientation, astrological luckiness of ticket number, penmanship and random selection." Quoted from a publicity flyer received via email from the Illini Conservative Union to the Orange and Blue Observer listserv. September 16, 2005.
"This isn't even a conservative event -- it's a project designed by the same people who think women should have never left the kitchen. The Observer should stay focused on issues that actually deal with conservative values -- I don't see misogyny and homophobia anywhere on the College Republicans' mission statement. I've also heard that a lot of conservatives are embarrassed by the fringe groups organizing this event. Perhaps that should show you how out-of-touch and extreme these people are -- they're like the crazy aunt you try to ignore at all of the family get-togethers," Monteith said. |
