Monday, April 27, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 3
Busy end for Pride Week
Drag show, rally mark conclusion to series of events
Katie Shay, the executive director of Queers and Allies, speaks in the gazebo at South Park. The organization marched down Massachusetts Street on Saturday. Photo by Lizz Weber / KANSAN
By Sara Anderson
sanderson@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
cessful Pride Week at the University of Kansas.
Both the drag
The Brown Bag Lunch Dug, "The Prom You Never Had" and the Fifth Annual Human Rights March and Rally mark the end of a suc-
show and the prom took place Friday. The Brown Bag Drag, which was conducted outside the Kansas Union, featured several drag queens and one drag king performing individual and group numbers in front of about 400 people. The Prom took place at 7:30 p.m. at Liberty Hall, and about 300 people attended.
Tina Bergen, Wichita junior, said she enloed the draa show.
"I think it's real fun to watch," she said. "It's different and you don't get to see anything like this usually. It's grabbing everyone's attention." One of the performers, "Ariel Matthews," said the drag show was a good event to have at the University.
"It broadens people's minds," she said. "It's a growth experience and a culture shock for some."
Corrina Beck, coordinator of Pride Week and Kansas City, Mo., junior, said that both events had gone well.
"We had such a great turnout at the drag show and I think people had a really good time at the prom," she said. "With the prom being off campus, people felt it was more formal, I think, and Liberty Hall was beautiful."
The march and rally begin Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at City Hall, 6 E
Sixth St. Participants marched down Massachusetts Street and gathered at the South Park gazebo. Speakers, such as Bonnie Cuevas, president of the Lawrence and Topeka Parents,
Beck said that the week went well, and that it was comparable to last year's success.
Friends and Families of Lesbians and Gavs, spoke at the rally.
AEPi member comes out to fraternity, receives support from greek community
By Sara Anderson sanderson@kansan.com Kansan staff writer
Danny Cohn stereotypes himself as a fraternity guy who likes to go out and spend time with his friends. He likes to play sports and to watch baseball. Cohn thinks of himself as one of the guys with one difference, he's gav.
Cohn, Omaha., Neb., junior and a member of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, came out to his fraternity several weeks ago. Surrounded by support, Cohn said it was a good decision.
"They have been great," he said. "I'm so proud of them because nothing has been any different than it has ever been. I'm still the same person as I was before, it's just that now they know who I really am."
Cohn told the members that he was gay at a weekly chapter meeting. He said he discussed it with president Rob Litt before telling the rest of the chapter.
"There was not one bad reaction, and I actually got applause when I told them," he said. "It was wonderful, because it showed that they respected me."
Litt, Maple Grove, Minn., sophomore, said that he was in favor of Cohn's decision to tell the chapter and had no worries about reactions from the group.
"I was happy he decided to do it, because it gave us the opportunity to give him the support that he deserves," Litt said. "It's a huge point in his life, and we wanted to be there for him."
come out was not any different than telling his family.
"AEP1 is my home away from home," he said. "I felt comfortable enough with my surroundings and had a good support group that cared. They were all my brothers, so if I could share it with my family then I could share it with them. There was no reason not to."
Litt said that Cohn's openness had given members the chance to overcome their fears and to dispel rumors.
Cohn said the decision to
"He has been very open to answering questions," he said.
Cory Littlepage, Interfraternity Council president and Tulsa, Okla., junior, said that he hoped Cohn's positive experience would help open communication.
"I think it is wonderful that both AEPi and the Greek community have shown so much support," he said. "For someone to come out is great, because it will help to us to gain more understanding of the lesbigaytrans community and for them to gain more understanding of Greek organizations."
"I have never been an activist, and I don't plan to be," he said. "My goal wasn't to say, 'Look world, here I am.' I would hope that others in the same situation would feel as comfortable enough to tell their house and that their brother would just say, 'Who cares,' like mine did."
Cohn said that he hoped his openness would help others, but that had not entered his mind when making his own decision.
Emily Rowe, Scottsdale, Ariz.,
sophomore and friend of Cohn, said she had had apprehensions about his decision to tell his fraternity brothers.
"I was worried about him and doubted in the beginning if it was a smart decision," she said. "But I was so impressed with the reaction of that house. They have all been so supportive of him."
Rowe said she didn't think most fraternities had the type of atmosphere that allowed for openness about differing sexuality but hoped that Cohn's experience would help pave the way for others.
"I don't think fraternities frown on homosexuality, but I think they fear it," she said. "I don't think that the stage is there for you to come out in a fraternity, but maybe AEPI's reaction will set a precedent that it can happen."
Litt said he only had heard positive reactions from the greek community and hoped it would break down some of the stereotypes.
"I think it will give an opportunity for people outside the greek community to see that we're not all the stereotypes that people make us out to be," he said. "We're supportive and always will be, and I hope that other houses would be too."
Cohn said that his life was no different that anyone else's, and he was happy with the life he was leading.
"The only thing I want out of life is a good job, three kids, my health and someone to settle down with," he said. "And right now, I wouldn't want to be anyplace else besides where I'm at."
THE LIED CENTER OF KANSAS
MIAMI CITY BALLET
Thursday, Sept. 24, 1988; 8:00 p.m.
MINGUS BIG BAND with Kevin Mahogany
Friday, Jan. 20, 1990 - 8:00 p.m.
ST. PETERSBURG PHILHARMONIC
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 1998 8:00 p.m.
New York City Opera National Company in Puccini's MADAMA BUTTERFLY
Saturday, Feb. 27 E-Sunday, Feb. 28, 1999, 8:00 p.m.
ITZHAK PERLMAN, VIOLIN
ITZHAK PERLMAN, VIOLIN
Saturday, April 10, 1999, 8:00 p.m.
FLECK/MARSHALL/MEYER
Bela Fleck, banjo; Mike Marshall, mandolin; Edgar Meyer, double bass
Saturday, Sep. 26, 1998, 8:00 p.m.
ANONYMOUS 4
Sunday, Nov. 1, 1998, 3:30 p.m.
TRIANGULO Paquito D'Rivera, clarinet; Gustavo Tavares, cello; Pablo Zinger, piano
Sunday, Jan. 24, 1999, 3:30 p.m.
BRENTANO STRING QUARTET
Sunday, Feb. 14, 1999, 3:30 p.m.
ORION STRING QUARTET with Ida Kavafian, viola
Sunday, April 18, 1999, 3:30 p.m.
YOU AT THE
YOU COME FIRST! Season and Single Tickets are On Sale Now to Students
CULTURE CLASH
Friday, Oct. 2, 1998, 8:00 p.m.
Jones/Zane Dance Company WE SET OUT EARLY...VISIBILITY WAS POOR
Tuesday, Oct. 20, 1998, 8:00 p.m.
BALLET HISPANICO
Saturday, Nov. 14, 1998, 8:00 p.m.
Robert Wilson & Philip Glass MONSTERS OF GRACE
Tuesday, Feb. 23, 1999, 8:00 p.m.
The Margaret Jenkins Dance Company TIME AFTER with Olympia Dukakis
Wednesday, April 7, 1999, 8:00 p.m.
STOMP
AMERICAN CHAMBER THEATER ENSEMBLE
AnimOtion: Saturday, Oct. 10, 1998, 7:00 p.m. (ages 14 and up)
Tell Taless: Sunday, Oct. 11, 1998, 2:00 p.m. (all ages)
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Wednesday, Dec. 9, 1998, 7:30 p.m.
The St. Petersburg State Ice Ballet in ROMEO AND JULIET
Saturday, Feb. 6, 1999, 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Theatro Sans Fil in DREAM CATCHERS
Sunday, Feb. 21, 1999, 2:00 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 23, 8:00 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24, 5:00 & 9:00 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 25, 1998, 3:00 p.m.
**PATSYI**
Friday, Oct. 30, 1998, 8:00 p.m.
**THE KING AND I**
Saturday, Nov. 21, 2:00 & 8:00 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 22, 1998, 2:00 p.m.
**MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS**
Tuesday, Mar. 16, 1999, 8:00 p.m.
**BRIGADOON**
Friday, April 30, 1999, 8:00 p.m.
SPECIAL EVENT
Viana do Motta International Music Foundation TAO CHANG, PIANO
Sunday, Sept. 20, 1998, 3:30 p.m.
For tickets or more information please call The University of Kansas School of Fine Arts Lied Center Box Office at (785) 864-ARTS. Weekdays 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Season tickets on sale now to general public.
Single tickets go on sale to the general public beginning June 15, 1998.
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By walking and biking you'll enjoy:
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