© Opinions the other press e¢ Kali thurber opinionsubmit@hotmail.com November 5, 2003 sr the Rainbow Homophobia Joel Koette OP Contributor Homophobia is defined as an intense fear of hatred of gays, lesbians, and bisexuals that includes various levels of prejudice, discrimination, and/or aggression. The Douglas Students’ Union Pride Collective has launched a new campaign to address homophobia at Douglas College. It includes two fact sheets—one defining homophobia and the other addressing myths and facts about the queer commu- nity. Mike Bourke, the College Relations Coordinator, said of the campaign, “it is really quite exciting to see the development of this campaign taking place.” Pride Collective volunteers will be distributing suckers with the fact sheets, including slo- gans such as “I’m a sucker for Diversity” and “Homophobia Sucks.” Campaign materials will be distributed at the New Westminster Campus in November. Since the Pride Collective first opened its doors in 1999, then located on the bottom floor of the Students’ Union building, it has dealt with numerous homophobic incidents. The lobby of the Pride Collective was constantly under attack, the furniture often found slashed, and walls covered in homophobic graffiti. Some examples include “Die Faggots Die,” “Disgrace to all People,” and “Aids Fuckers.” There was little the Collective could do about such incidents but scrub the walls, tape the couches up, file-an inci- dent report with campus security, dry their tears, and move on. The Collective has recently moved to the top floor of the Students’ Union Building in an effort for increased visibility, space, and activity. The Collective’s space has seen relatively little vandalism and its members have been able to focus their work on educating students, faculty, and staff about homophobia. Often all that is needed is to meet some- one who is gay or lesbian to see that there is no difference between them and other people. It is one of my favourite activities and I have had many people tell me that I have helped them understand that I am like everyone else in “normal” society. However, homophobia is still an issue at Douglas College. Pride Collective mem- bers are still subject to homophobic com- ments in class, discrimination, and vio- lence. What can you do about homophobia on campus? 1) You can challenge current stereotypes. Make it clear to those you know that you will not accept homophobic ideas and opinions. 2) Face your fears. It has been said that it is those individuals who are not secure in their sexuality who are the most likely to act out in a homophobic manner. So, fig- ure yourself out and deal. 3) Find out more about the Queer com- munity. We are people too, who are talent- ed, artistic, funny, smart, and involved in the community to change this world into something better. 4) Attend a Pride Collective meeting. Why t...you don’t have to be gay, lesbian, or bisexual, but you can attend as a straight ally. We currently have two straight allies who attend Pride Collective meetings, and they haven't caught “gay” yet! As a final note, the Pride Resource Centre Open House and Pub Night took place this past Thursday. Thanks to those who came and checked out our new space over food and beverages! The Hoop Kali Thurber Opinions Editor The hula hoop is cool the way that fun-fur was, five years ago. That is, really not cool at all, but the losers who deeply believed that fun-fur was all the rage are probably the ones who are hoopin’ it up now, so it’s all the same bag. Perhaps I am a little slow on the fads that ravers and club kids follow, because I just found out about the comeback of the hula hoop. Shame on me. I encountered a rather incestuously small hooping community at an East Van park this weekend. Normally I don’t get the chance to watch a bunch of adults dressed in various layers of tie-dyed clothing, hooping in the middle of the night, so I stayed on the edge of the field and stared. There is something rather hypnotizing about the hula hoop. It just keeps going around, and around, and around. Anyways, it got me to thinking. Who invented this thing we call the hula hoop? How did it turn into the craze it was in the 50s, and why has it come back now? And boy, did I find out. The hula hoop was never really officially “invented,” it turns out. Well, I'm sure someone invented it, but nobody can pin down exactly who it was. Apparently hoops have been around for as long as anyone seems to have been able to keep track. In ancient Greece the hoop was recommended for weight loss, and was originally made of metal, wood, grasses, and vines. But then in 1958 the company Wham-O, who also created the trademark name of Frisbee, reinvented the hoop. Wham-O says the name hula hoop comes from the Hawaiian dance that its users seem to imitate. To set things straight, it must be said that the newest craze of hooping was not initiated by Beyénce's gyrating hips, in her video, Work it out, but was actually started with the band The String Cheese Incident’s encouragement. During one of their shows in the mid-90s, they threw hoops out to the audience, and since then the hoop has been adapted into a sensual dance toy. The hooping movement has seen many intri- cate tricks worked into the sport since then. Advanced hoopers can whirl the hoop from around their knees up to their necks, across an arm, and back down again. Obviously the practice has changed a lot since I was seven-years-old, and struggling to keep it around my waist. The hippies I met in the park (I eventually talked to them and they tried to recruit me) told me that hooping uses practically all the same muscles as sex. Hmm, good to know. They also tried to get me to drive them to Home Hardware to buy more tubing so they could make me one, and I could join their “community.” I declined—not only because I have neither a car, nor a valid driver’s license—but because they were weird and creepy. To be quite frank, the idea of hula hooping with a bunch of sensory-obsessed hippies in the park doesn’t sound like a good time to me. Call me a prude, but the hoop just isn’t for me. WN hon No performance Sunday) Box Office: 604-527-5488 y matinee at 1pm (2 for 1) y matinee at 2pm, November 22 (2 for 1) Douglas College th and Theatre Departments present Laramie project By Moises Kaufman and the Tectonic Theater Project General Admission $10 Students and Seniors $5 Or visit our Web Site at www.douglas.bc.ca/st/ Group and school bookings: 604-527-5281 Performing Arts Theatre Fourth Floor North 700 Royal Avenue New Westminster One block from New Westminster SkyTrain Station NN Please forward you! The Other Press Room 1020-700 Royai New Westminster, BC Ph: 604.525.3542 Fax: 604.525.3505 Geass Page 6 e _http://www.otherpress.ca