‘It’s not that scary’

In an attempt to raise awareness about current issues facing the bisexual, gay, lesbian and transgender community, Rachel N. Holmberg held a presentation Wednesday featuring clips from "South Park."

Holmberg, a Career Services counselor for West Virginia University, showed clips from the popular animated series, asking the audience for input on various issues that were raised in the episodes.

"Since it’s Diversity Week, I wanted to talk about sexual orientation issues in a format that would be fun, and something that students could identify with," Holmberg said.

The topics Holmberg covered included gay marriage, sex-change operations, conflict with the Catholic church and the difficulties involved in coming out.

Statistics showing the high rate of suicide among the gay community were presented, as well as the various types of physical and mental abuse bisexual, gay, lesbian and transgendered people face.

"I think people who don’t understand (homosexuality) can be afraid of it, but if they just take the time to understand, they realize it’s not that scary," said Anthony Hamill, a sophomore general studies major and member of Bi Gay Lesbian Transgendered Mountaineers.

"I think anything that brings light to the situation is good. I think ignorance is our biggest problem."

The presentation was attended by more than 40 students.

"I thought it was informative, and a good way to see how ‘South Park’ covers the issues," said Madalyn Fizer, a freshman pre-psychology major.

"I think it helps that people can make jokes about it. In ways it reinforces stereotypes, but it also shows the flaws in those stereotypes and points and laughs at them."

Students were encouraged to be open-minded and accepting of other people’s opinions before the presentation started.

The goal of the presentation was to help people see issues in a different way or from a different perspective, Holmberg said.

"The point of college is not to have someone hand you the answers, but try to help you ask good questions, and then form your own opinion of it," she said.

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