“Die Fag” vandals: Thank you.

To the individuals who sought to demoralize me by spray painting “Die Fag Die Fag” on the building and windows outside my office in Durham this weekend … I want to say, “Thank You.”

Thank you for re-energizing me to continue to push for changes on this campus. In the 12 years that I’ve been at Iowa State, I’ve seen fantastic moves: sexual orientation added to every non-discrimination policy; insurance benefits for same-sex partners; equal access to University Family Housing; spousal access to Parks Library, Recreation Services, etc.

Thank you for reminding me that I still have lots of work to do. I had forgotten that closed-minded individuals, such as you, still existed on this campus. I had forgotten your tactics of leaving a message, and then running away like scared little children. It seems the roles have now been reversed between the fags and the fag-haters. Nowadays, it is the homophobes who are in the closet.

Thank you for inspiring me. No longer can I rest on my laurels. I will become active again. I will find ways to continue to educate others. I will relearn how to inspire other “fags” on campus. And I will make sure that people do not forget that people like you are still out there.

Jeff Sorensen

Staff