LGBTQ Welcome Assembly - September 6, 2006
Good evening!
First, let me say, I very much appreciate your recognition and the invitation to speak at this assembly. It is great to know that our efforts toward making the University of Florida a more welcoming, more inclusive campus are having an impact. That was my goal when I began working on this issue in 2004 after becoming aware of the serious problems and concerns that confronted us.
I am particularly proud of a couple of steps. One, I think we made the right decision in creating the position of director of LGBTQ affairs. This has given students an outlet for their concerns, and it has made certain that we have an advocate for LGBTQ issues. Two, I am pleased with our new policy offering health benefits for employees who are domestic partners. I understand that these benefits are not something for which most students are eligible. But, I feel the policy sends the right message on campus and to the local community and the state. And, I know it will help us attract the best possible candidates for employment!
All that said, I think we have a ways to go. Just eight years have passed since the brutal murder of Matthew Shepherd in Laramie. Gays, lesbians, bisexuals and others in their community continue to face hate speech, threats and violence -- a fact I am afraid many in this room are probably all too familiar with. Too often, the comforting rhetoric of inclusion overshadows the harsh reality of continued discrimination, injustice and violence.
As president of this university, I cannot change the world, but I can do my best to make sure that our campus is a model of decency, respect and equality for people of all races, genders, cultures and sexual orientations. I have absolutely zero tolerance for hate and violence. I am committed to making sure that everyone at UF has an equal opportunity for education and employment, and that we do our utmost to maintain and protect people's personal dignity.
I think history shows that the most successful cultures were also the most inclusive, and I fully intend to shape this university with that in mind.
Again, thank you for having me this evening, and I look forward to working together in the future.
Bernie Machen