In a recent article by Kim Severson and Alan Blinder in New York Times news entitled "University of Mississippi Investigating Anti-Gay Heckling at Theater Performance," a group of Ole Miss football players were screaming hateful gay slurs during an anti-gay theater play in Oxford, Missouri.
"The two groups of students, about as far apart as any cultural groups on a college campus could be, became linked this week after football players and other freshmen disrupted the play with homophobic heckling." In 1962, the university is still struggling with the horrible integration that resulted in two deaths and dozens of injuries. The play, an act about a bullied homosexual, was a racial healing theme to unify the college together. The actions of the men was immature and unnecessary, although some students disagree.
"Once an investigation of the heckling on Tuesday is concluded, the school will consider disciplinary action, which could range from a public apology to expulsion, Dr. Jones said." With the football players irresponsible action, they are to take a theater appreciation class for the unrespectable gay comments that they interrupted with during the play. Some has even apologized for the slurs to an actor, the main character of the act.
"For the cast members, who gathered in the theater at noon Friday to discuss the episode and listen to encouraging words from administrators and theater faculty, the fact that the play provoked such strong reaction was, in a way, exactly what theater is supposed to do." The play made such an impact on those that watched it. Just as it was supposed to. It sampled how people were judgemental towards the gay community.
There was no need in such hurtful words towards the gay actors while performing such a symbolic play. I personally have homosexual friends who I dearly care about, and although it was a play about a tragic story of a gay man who was brutally judged, beaten, and eventually killed, there should be some respect from the audience. Everyone should be treated equally, no matter what the sexual orientation. Everyday, there is always someone who is bullied for their views on life, and cannot stand for it.
Why judge a person for loving another person of the same sexuality? It is a personal decision, and no one has to deal with it but the person involved. This world is full of hateful and judgmental human beings, and we should have the freedom to love, care, and marry the partner that we desire.
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