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Obituary: Victim of JJ’s blast was alumna known for serving others

March 5th, 2013 | Add a Comment

As firefighters scoured through remains of the explosion and four-alarm fire that broke out at a County Club Plaza-area restaurant on Tuesday, Feb. 19, one Springfield family anxiously awaited details on their daughter’s whereabouts. On Thursday, it was confirmed that the body of Megan Cramer, a UMKC School of Law alumna and server at JJ’s Restaurant, was found among the rubble. Cramer moved to Kansas City in 1987 to complete her law degree, pursuing a passion for social justice. “Megan was smart, tenacious, and proud— a woman who lived her values,” said Dr. Jim Wanser, Director of Testing Services. “She had a direct communication style that reflected her strength and determination as a student leader.” In 1990, Cramer and four other UMKC alumni created the first long-standing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) organization … Read entire article »

Filed under: News

Gender-neutral Court Warming royalty is the right decision

February 19th, 2013 | Add a Comment

UMKC is making great strides in gender inclusivity, but it seems students in attendance at this weekend’s Court Warming basketball game haven’t jumped on board.  When two males were announced as Court Royalty, an influx of close-minded and discriminatory statements followed. For a campus whose student government recently passed a resolution supporting gender neutral housing, I fear the rest of the student body is not yet educated enough to provide the atmosphere that trans* and gender-nonconforming students need to feel included. The decision to omit the gendered titles of Mr. and Miss UMKC was a choice based on a demographic of students who do not identify according to this gender binary. Some have stated the previous titles were a tradition, but I don’t see anything that has changed about this annual event besides … Read entire article »

Filed under: Opinion

obituary: UMKC mourns death of Conservatory student

February 4th, 2013 | Add a Comment

Desiree Hines, Conservatory student and community musician, succumbed to her battle with cancer in January.  Many have reflected on Hines’ contribution to the musical, LGBT and UMKC communities with smiles and positivity. “She was like momma,” said Kalaa Wilkerson, Pride Alliance Vice President. “Everyone loved her. She said would do any and everything for us. I loved spending time with her, and she will be forever missed.” Hines was diagnosed with a rare form of neuroendocrine cancer. In a previous interview with U-News, Hines was handling her diagnosis positively. “Young people can get cancer too,” she said. A native of Jackson, Miss., Hines had family scattered across the U.S. and had lived in many states herself, making friends and leaving a lasting impression wherever she went. Hines’ Facebook wall is covered with posts from friends … Read entire article »

Filed under: News

Gender-neutral housing is more than just a housing issue

January 28th, 2013 | Add a Comment

In the upcoming weeks, UMKC has a chance to further contribute to this generation’s civil rights movement. Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans still are denied basic, fundamental rights because of an innate, uncontrollable, harmless facet of their identity. In what many call the greatest nation in the world, society is actively marginalizing your fellow citizens. We cannot allow this to continue any longer. LGBT citizens are told day in and day out that they are different, immoral and disgusting. That we are causing the downfall of this nation and the unraveling of families. It still is socially acceptable in many circles to express hateful, discriminatory, even violent sentiments about us in polite conversation. In fact, we live in a state where regular citizens feel comfortable spouting toxic hostility and contempt for LGBT people … Read entire article »

Filed under: Opinion

UMKC Christian organization discriminates against LGBT students

November 27th, 2012 | Add a Comment

UMKC’s non-discrimination policy prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, citizenship, veteran status and sexual orientation. The Division of Diversity, Access and Equity defines discrimination as, “Conduct directed at a specific individual or a group of identifiable individuals that subjects the individual or group to treatment that adversely affects their employment or education” based on the above characteristics. The operating guide for student organizations clarifies this policy to also include all departments and student organizations. UMKC’s non-discrimination and equal opportunity policies are similar to those of other colleges and universities across the U.S. in compliance with state and federal law. In 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in Christian Legal Society v. Martinez that schools can force religious and political student organizations to admit members and leaders … Read entire article »

Filed under: Opinion

Let’s thank God for separation of church and state

November 27th, 2012 | Add a Comment

Whose version of Christianity is correct? Christian denominations and spiritual leaders diverge on key doctrinal issues, ascribing themselves to many different Biblical interpretations. Yet each different sect often claims that its interpretation is the only “correct” one. As a Christian, I am disappointed that many of my fellow believers have overlooked the Bible’s central message of love, compassion, forgiveness and humility. Instead, they have become sidetracked with trivial minutiae. Theological debates often boil down to egotism and control. To understand any literary work, one must critically examine its context. Languages and cultures change over time, and meaning is lost with interpretation. How words are understood varies considerably between languages and cultures, and there is oftentimes not an exact translation from one to another. Consider how a Shakespeare play reads to modern-day English speakers, and then consider taking a … Read entire article »

Filed under: Opinion

The LGBT community needs to stop the counter-hate

November 27th, 2012 | 7 Comments

As a Christian, I am against same-sex marriage. Why is it that by adhering to this Biblical standard I am viewed as hateful? Despite the fact that I am genuinely kind and considerate toward gay people, I am categorized as a hateful person by many. My character speaks just the opposite, and I am a little fed up—for a lack of better words—with the counter-hate that Christians are forced to suffer from some members of the LGBT community. I often hear some gay students tsk-ing, performing exaggerated sighs and see them rolling their eyes at the bare mention of the word “God” or “Christian” or “pastor.” The rude looks and discourteous sound effects are the very things that they don’t want done to them. Here’s the truth of the matter: Agreeing with … Read entire article »

Filed under: Opinion

cult classic review: ‘But I’m a Cheerleader’ endures as a romantic LGBT comedy

October 1st, 2012 | Add a Comment

Director Jamie Babbit’s “But I’m a Cheerleader” is a hilarious 1999 cult romantic comedy that successfully satirizes the gay community, the social construction of gender roles, heteronormativity and the religious right. The plot is centered on the life of Megan (Natasha Lyonne), who appears to be an all-American, heterosexual, Christian high school girl with a passion for cheerleading and a handsome boyfriend. Even though Megan appears perfectly “normal” on the surface, her friends and family believe she is homosexual, and arrange an intervention. During the intervention, Megan’s friends and family offer hilariously stereotypical evidence to prove she is a lesbian. Her mother points out how Megan’s been eating tofu, her father showcases her Melissa Etheridge poster as “gay iconography,” her best friend argues she only has pictures of women in her locker and her … Read entire article »

Filed under: Arts & Entertainment

LGBT at UMKC

August 27th, 2012 | Add a Comment

Students discuss school’s gay-friendly reputation Media attention addressing anti-gay bullying and hate crimes, particularly in schools, has raised awareness of discrimination against LGBT individuals. LGBTQIA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning/queer, intersexual and ally/asexual) awareness nationwide. In 2011, Newsweek ranked UMKC as the 5th gay friendly college in America, outranked by only MIT, Stanford University, Tufts University and Bryn Mawr College. The Newsweek ranking stems from anti-discrimination policies on campus and an active LGBTQIA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning/queer, intersexual and ally/asexual) office. UMKC is one of approximately 90 universities in the country with a professionally-staffed LGBTQIA center. At UMKC, the office raises awareness through diversity and sensitivity training. Many faculty and staff members, including residential life employees, go through a “Safe Space” training to better understand students of LGBTQIA backgrounds. Many students view UMKC’s reputation as gay-friendly … Read entire article »

Filed under: Feature

Bringing everyone together: Kansas City’s LikeMe Lighthouse grand opening promotes unity

March 20th, 2012 | Add a Comment

Award-winning country singer and gay activist Chely Wright visited her hometown of Kansas City the weekend of March 9-11 to support LikeMe Lighthouse’s grand opening, an LGBT resource center located at 3909 Main St. The weekend’s events, open to the public, promoted the new facility. “Wish Me Away,” a documentary about Wright’s life, was shown on Friday, March 9 to a sold-out audience at Screenlands Crossroads. The film followed the chronology of Wright’s life leading up to May 2010 when she admitted to being a lesbian on live television. The documentary focused on her struggle about coming to terms with her sexuality while upholding her Christian beliefs. She remembers praying to her god every day, “Please don’t let me be gay.” The documentary included how Wright nearly committed suicide prior to coming … Read entire article »

Filed under: Arts & Entertainment

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