Sometimes, all you need is love. On Wednesday, over 60 UTSC students and staff gathered to smile, hug and kiss in the Meeting Place during a love-in. But while the general sentiments were of love and affection, the event was actually held in response to a major act of violence on campus.
At approximately 1 a.m. on Saturday the bulletin board for UTSC’s Positive Space and LGBTQ student group was set on fire. Representatives from the Emergency Medicine Response Group were soon on the scene and alerted Campus Police, who quickly put out the fire.
It didn’t take long for students and the surrounding community to respond to the news. Within hours of the incident details began circulating among students through Facebook and other online communities. LGBTQ coordinator David Leaman created a Facebook group called “Stop Homophobia at UTSC,” which at press time had over 650 members.
Letters of support also came from UTSC principal Franco Vaccarino, Council on Student Services chair Jenna Hossack, SCSU president Rob Wulkan and CFS-Ontario chairperson Jen Hassum. Outreach representative Andrew Brett of CFS-O, UTSC equity advisor Aysan Sev’er, and VP human resources and equity special advisor Connie Guberman were also in attendance during Wednesday’s love-in event.
Lovers and friends, both straight and queer, left the gathering with smiles. And a large posted explanation on the damaged bulletin board has generated publicity for the LGBTQ group. Leaman said the arson highlighted the continued need for public awareness and outreach about the gay community. But there are still long-term concerns regarding safety.
Leaman and other students say they feel threatened and vulnerable as a result of the arson. “I’ve been having these horrible thoughts that someone is going to come up to the lounge in the middle of the night, pour gasoline under the door and light it,” said Leaman. “I mean, why wouldn’t they, if they’re setting fire to stuff. We can’t just say, that’s fine we’ll put up another board, we have to come to terms that we’re physically threatened here.”
It’s a sentiment reflected in recent discussions for new LGBTQ t-shirts. The phrase “I’m queer!” would be on the front, but students at UTSC also joke about placing an additional plea on the back: “Please don’t set me on fire.”
