‘Walk out of the shadows’: Over 100 people gather at SUU for Strikeout Queerphobia protest

CEDAR CITY — About 120 people gathered at Southern Utah University for the Strikeout Queerphobia protest to call for “intentionality, accountability and change.”

Liz Bates poses with a protest sign at the Strikeout Queerphobia rally, Cedar City, Utah Oct. 11, 2022 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, Cedar City News

On Tuesday, National Coming Out Day, the Black Menaces and LGBQTIA+ students of the Religious Exemption Accountability Project collaborated to organize walkouts at over 100 college campuses and high schools across the United States.

The protesters gathered at the garden near the SUU bell tower and chanted phrases like, “One, two, three, four – what are we fighting for? Five, six, seven, eight – no exceptions, stop the hate.”

SUU student Brook Ober took to the microphone and read a speech prepared by the Black Menaces. She began by saying that the protest would be peaceful.

“We’re here today to stand in solidarity with any and all people who are discriminated against because of who they are,” she said. “We’re standing today with all cross-sectional groups and marginalized persons, and namely today with people of the queer community.”

The process was not targeted against any particular school, religion or other institution, she said, asking the crowd to match their expression to that ideal as they “fight and stand together against all institutions and systematic oppression.”

About 120 people gathered at Southern Utah University for the Strikeout Queerphobia protest, Cedar City, Utah Oct. 11, 2022 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, Cedar City News

Protesters were asked to stand for four minutes of silence to honor the marginalized students who came before who had to “endure four long years of being unable to exist as their whole selves freely and without fear of consequences for the way they love.”

Then, Ober asked the crowd to walk out of the shadows and into the sunshine to celebrate together.

Additionally, Ober quoted Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and said the group demands that the rights and protections of all students be guaranteed.

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance,” she read.

When finished, Ober gave those in attendance a choice to share their stories and multiple speakers did. For instance, SUU student Terry Musser said they identify as a nonbinary lesbian and that it is “very hard” to come out as transgender because, as an aspiring teacher, they are concerned about getting fired for mentioning pronouns or gender.

Terry Musser poses with a protest sign at the Strikeout Queerphobia protest, Cedar City, Utah Oct. 11, 2022 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, Cedar City News

“So it’s very rough for me, but I do my best to stay positive,” Musser said.

Benji Herring, who also is a student at SUU said they have dealt with “a whole lot of diversity” throughout their life as a person who is both gender-fluid and has a physical disability.

Herring struggled with identifying their experience until learning about gender fluidity and has been growing more comfortable with themself since they “figured that out.” They said being at SUU has been a “huge blessing.”

“I’ve been able to be who I want, and it’s made me very happy – happier than I’ve been in a long time,” Herring said. “And I just want to say thank you. Thank you for being here. Thank you for accepting me here.”

The Pride and Equality Club president Garn Hughes who is also the queer representative for the SUU student government said that it “was pretty hard for people on campus throughout the years.”

(R to L) Benji Herring, Lynn, Brooklyn Shearer and Taylee Dunlap pose for a group photo at the Strikeout Queerphobia protest, Cedar City, Utah Oct. 11, 2022 | Photo by Alysha Lundgren, Cedar City News

“We’ve built up enough momentum to get to where we’re actually being represented here within student government,” he said. “I’m excited to see where the momentum goes. We have a lot to do, but we’re getting there.”

Daneka Souberbielle, who works at the university as the chief diversity officer and associate provost of the office of equity and inclusion said it’s great to see students using their freedoms of speech and assembly to support marginalized students from across the state.

“It’s just, for me, really awe-inspiring to see so many people come out, to see it so positive and to see it so uplifting,” she said. “So it was great to see students lead in that way.”

The groups protesting are calling for “intentionality, accountability and change,” according to a flyer, which can be found on the Black Menaces’ Twitter page.

“We need social pressure coupled with legislative action to Strike Out Homophobia, ending the legalized discrimination of LGBTQIA+ students,” it states.

They are  also calling for:

  • Ending of religious colleges and universities to allow for the discrimination and erasure of LGBTQIA+ students on their campus, especially while also receiving taxpayer funding.
  • Requiring access to, support of and enforcement of Title IX for all minority students, including LGBTQIA+ students. Further, clearly delineating and upholding protections for students reporting violations of Title IX policies.
  • Guaranteeing the protection of the right of all students, staff and faculty, at any and all college and university campuses, to have the ability to exist completely as themselves regardless of any diverse background.

As the rally wound down, protesters were asked to sign a petition, which can be found on Action Network’s website.

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