Demonstrations at Sinclair went peacefully March 25—despite ill-boding phone calls threatening to ruin the Traditional Value Club’s prayer rally for traditional marriage.
The Traditional Values Club (TVC) held their rally outside building 4 on East Fourth Street,and just a few yards away, under the shadow of the Hamster Tube, the LGBT organizations Brite Signal Alliance, Have a Gay Day and Love Wins collaborated on a colorfulcounter-protest.
Sinclair’s public safety department was on hand, but both parties continued calmly and without incident.
The event began at 2:30 p.m., and the group displayed a banner that read: “God’s Marriage= 1 Man + 1 Woman.” The group of nearly 15 people then spent about 20 minutes in a quiet prayer vigil.
Some Traditional Values Club demonstrators held signs, one of which read “Kids Thrive with a Mom (Female) and a Dad (Male).” Pamphlets were also available from TVC for future church services.
Nearby, members of Brite Signal Alliance and other marriage equality supporters held a large, rainbow-emblazoned banner which read: “Have A Gay Day.” Members of Sinclair’s English department dropped off snacks to the group to show their support.
The demonstrations went on for about two hours, but controversy stirred the night before.
Vickie Lair, Traditional Values Club advisor and math professor at Sinclair, reported that she received two harassing phone calls from individuals claiming to be affiliated with the LGBT community. According to Lair, one of the individuals said they intended to ruin TVC’s prayer rally. Lair also said that one of the offensive voicemail messages contained many expletives.
Kara Brown, faculty advisor for Brite Signal Alliance, responded to Lair’s allegations: “Our members know that’s not appropriate behavior. The Traditional Values Club does have a right to be here on campus and we have a right to disagree with them and counter- protest.”
Jane Cammel, who is also an advisor for Brite Signal Alliance, commented on the harassing phone messages as well. During the rally, Cammel reached out to the TVC and apologized, reaffirming her expectations of members of the BSA. “I am absolutely opposed to any threats. We believe in peaceful protests, and people are expected to be peaceful and respectful,” Cammel said. “If [Lair] received a threat, that is unfortunate, and I feel confident that it did not come from one of our members.”
Students and faculty from both sides of the issue of same-sex marriage were outspoken about their opinions during Wednesday’s demonstrations. Chants could be heard from the Traditional Values side, vocalizing the message: “Children have only one mother and one father.” Several drivers honked their vehicle’s horns while passing by the rally on East Fourth Street.
The Clarion spoke with several active participants in Wednesday’s rally and counter-protest. Among them was Traditional Values Club supporter and Sinclair Professor Emeritus Al Giambrone.
Giambrone, who began teaching mathematics at Sinclair during the summer of 1972, explained to the Clarion some of the values that TVC believes are important to maintain on Sinclair’s campus.
“I’ve tried to help promote … those values that I think America was founded on: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, sanctity of life, and sanctity of marriage,” Giambrone said. “I think those are principles that helped our country to be probably the greatest country in all of history, as far as freedom and opportunity and the chance for people to prosper.”
Giambrone added: “Marriage is an ancient institution; it’s been around for as long as mankind has been around. Up until recently it’s always been clearly and universally understood as an institution whereby a man and a woman … dedicate themselves together for life.”
Professor Lair believes it is important to speak out about this issue on campus.
“Sinclair students need to listen to both sides of the story on the homosexual issue. I think they’re only fed one side here at school. And that is to practice homosexuality at your pleasure and do it as you want, and that’s not best for society.”
Sinclair’s campus is not the only place where groups and individuals find themselves at odds with each other over the contentious issue of marriage equality.
In Ohio, as well as many other states, there has been a strong push to legalize same-sex marriage. Ohio’s law may change depending on the Supreme Court’s decision, which is expected to be finalized in June of 2015.
Students who would like to reach out to Traditional Values Club or Brite Signal Alliance can contact Vickie Lair (TVC) or Jane Cammel (BSA). Information is also available on the Sinclair website under Student Services/Student Leadership Development/Active Student Clubs.
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