Wait, don’t freak out.
Two decades ago, safe zones we’re an oasis in an unaccepting society. Since then, public perception has evolved, but not fast enough.
Gallup polls indicate that 53 percent of Americans feel that same-sex marriage should be legalized for the 3.5 percent of the U.S. population that identifies as LGBT.
A Politico survey found that 70 percent of those polled favored legalizing civil unions or same-sex marriage, with 40 percent of those favoring the latter.
Even the AP Stylebook was amended last month to include a “husband, wife” entry: “Regardless of sexual orientation, husband or wife is acceptable in all references to individuals in any legally recognized marriage.”
Views aren’t limited to marriage either.
A YouGov poll discovered that 48 percent of Americans said if their son was in the Boy Scouts, they wouldn’t mind if a member of the LGBT community led their troop.
While there’s still a large swath of the American public, 46 percent, that feels the need to meddle in the personal affairs of others, their views are fueled by religion and moral objections that have no place in public policy.
No, Safe Zone training isn’t obsolete, but it should be.
LGBT students shouldn’t have to seek out a rainbow banner in order to feel safe. They should find allies in every person paid by the taxpayers.
That means every YSU employee.
Sadly, our country took too long to accept African-Americans as equals, women’s rights and interracial marriage. This is the next step, and it’s long overdue.
We applaud Brian Wells’ efforts and encourage him to continue. The future of LGBT acceptance looks promising, but it needs to migrate off campus.
Over the past week, Youngstown’s economic and business development has dominated the regional headlines.
On Sunday, The Plain Dealer’s front-page story was about Youngstown’s business boom, the tech belt and the emerging advanced manufacturing sector cultivating in NAMII. We’ve editorialized on Youngstown’s budding “urban renaissance,” and it’s absolutely essential that LGBT acceptance is incorporated with the city’s new mindset. Youngstown is setting the pace for urban revitalization, and what’s better than a LGBT-friendly community to set the standard for regional, state and national onlookers? Next time a reporter writes about the city, we hope it’s about the welcoming community and not the rusty past.
