Students and members of the university community pledged to support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights on Monday and Wednesday.
Jamie Bergeron, a graduate student in Wellness Education and Services, hosted the South Campus event. Bergeron said that he intended to collect signatures and raise awareness for the Ally Pledge Signing.
"The Ally Pledge Signing is a pledge for equality," Bergeron said. "We want to increase awareness [and] positive support on the UB campus for LGBT people."
This is Ally Pledge Signing's first year, although a partner event called the Ally Photo Project has been going on since last spring.
Bergeron explained that pledging to support LGBT rights makes the environment safer and shows UB is a supportive campus.
"When I say safer environment, I mean allowing people to live harassment free," Bergeron said. "We hope to achieve awareness and acceptance for people who identify themselves differently and create an overall accepting community."
UB alumnus Mark Rhodes is a photographer for the Ally Photo Project, an undertaking that will culminate in a printed book of photos and statements of allies who wish to make themselves identifiable LBGT supporters.
"They Ally Photo Project will go on all year for students that want to get involved in this book," Bergeron said. "We want to send these books to the offices on campus allowing people to identify all the supporters in order to promote a safer environment for all people regardless of their gender preference."
Several students on campus say they are already aware of the vital nature of universal acceptance.
"Of course I support awareness," said Pravin Pienes, a sophomore business major. "It's college, you're supposed to experiment - feel free to if it's legal."
Other students said that they are accepting of other people's lifestyles.
"I just think it's a whole part of being diverse," said Maria Singh, a junior business major. "You can be a different race, I don't think having a different sex orientation should be different."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
