Flag not to be flown for Coming Out Week
eQ Alliance President Sebastian Moleski said the activities planned for National Coming Out Week will make students more aware of gays and lesbians on campus.
By Emily Turner
Staff Reporter

eQ Alliance, the student organization that represents gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders, decided against asking to raise the rainbow flag for National Coming Out Week, said organization president Sebastian Moleski.

In a group meeting Tuesday, the gay rights organization decided not to ask the university to allow it to fly a flag symbolizing equal rights next on the poles in front of Sadler Hall, said Moleski, a freshman political science and economics major. The organization had planned to ask for the Student Government Association’s backing at its meeting.

Organizations are not allowed to fly extra flags on the three poles hoisting the American, Texas and university flags in front of Sadler Hall, the office of Student Affairs confirmed.

“We decided that the flag would offend too many people,” Moleski said after the SGA meeting.

Student reactions varied.

Dickson Obahor, a junior business major and Foster Hall representative, said eQ Alliance is entitled as a campus organization to represent itself during National Coming Out Week, but flying a flag is unnecessary.

“I am not offended because they are working hard and equality should be stressed,” he said. “If the TCU flag already represents students, they shouldn’t have to fly their organization’s flag.”

Speaking at the SGA meeting Tuesday, Moleski told representatives about the events eQ Alliance has planned for this year’s National Coming Out Week. He said activities are all supportive of gay and lesbian students and will be in the Student Center Monday through Oct. 10.

Moleski said more events are planned this year than before because of an abundance of activities and speakers available. Activities will inform students about issues related to gay rights, religion, tolerance and non-discrimination, he said.

Moleski said the activities include: “The Laramie Project,” a movie about a homosexual Wyoming student who was killed by two strangers, a speech and presentation by radio station host Chris Jagger and an opening ceremony in front of Frog Fountain.

eQ Alliance secretary Craig Larson, a sophomore sociology major, said next week’s activities will help to better represent the gay community on campus. eQ Alliance is striving to make the week fun, informational and educational for the university, Larson said.

“We want to inform people out there who believe in something contrary to us,” Larson said. “We don’t try to recruit them or anything.”

Moleski said he hopes eQ Alliance will help to make a difference to improve gay and lesbian awareness among students.

Moleski said. “We don’t do bad stuff. We don’t try to convert people to be gay and (we aren’t) promiscuous.”