Following extensive debate on Tuesday evening the Tempe Undergraduate Student Government failed to approve Senate Bill 17, a measure which would put the issue of LGBTQ equal rights to student vote during the 2012 student government election.
The measure, titled the Arizona Vote for Student Equality, was initiated by Vaughn Hillyard, a journalism junior at the Walter Cronkite School.
“It’s the civil rights issue of our time; we are ultimately not granting civil rights in our own country,” Hillyard said.
The measure would have allowed students on each ASU campus to vote on whether they support equal rights and marriage equality in the LGBTQ community.
The measure’s mission statement reads, “The student body of this university supports marriage equality for same-sex couples, and denounces the inferior treatment of those in the gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender and queer community. We accept and welcome all students and call upon our state and federal government to do the same in passing legislation that grants equal marriage rights to same-sex couples.”
Several students at the USG meeting contested the measure, such as Director of Arizona Student Association Brendan Pantilione, who said the measure was not a student government issue. Several other USG Senators echoed this concern.
Alex Miller, a sophomore nonprofit leadership and management major, spoke to the senate, arguing that the measure was not a partisan issue, but an equality issue that ASU students should have a choice on.
“It’s the student’s voices that are going to carry us in the future,” she said.
Miller has been involved since the measure’s inception. She said she was immediately convinced on helping and has been committed to student outreach.
“If you can motivate a population like the youth, nothing can stop you,” she said.
Miller believes that this measure is the best way to obtain equal rights for the LGBTQ population. “If you look at history, students have had a huge impact,” she said.
Hillyard also addressed the Senate, saying they need to give students the opportunity to express their opinion. In response to concerns that the measure was not a student government issue, Hillyard said, “If we don’t have the nerve to stand up for this fight, who will?”
Hillyard planned to approach student government on each ASU campus, but has been working mainly with Tempe. He met with the University Affairs Committee on Sept. 13 to discuss the bill. USG held the first reading on Sept. 20. The legislation, written by Sen. Songling Du, went back to the UAC for minor corrections on the phrasing. To avoid multiple forms of legislation, Hillyard was waiting for USG to vote on the measure before forwarding it to other campuses. However, he did approach the Downtown student government, and discussed the issue with Andres Cano, President Joseph Grossman’s chief of staff.
Cano said he supports the initiative.
“This vote is a bold statement in support of diversity and equal opportunity, furthering what we know: young people overwhelmingly believe in marriage equality,” he said.
Cano said Downtown student government does support a statewide vote on this initiative as it provides a better understanding of ASU student opinions.
“Until young people realize the power of the ballot box, we will continue to witness discriminatory policies that affect us, our families and our friends,” Cano said.
Yet, Grossman agrees with the USG position that the measure is not a student government issue. He said he would support students if they rallied behind this measure, but it’s not the right idea, time or place.
“I appreciate the passion, the drive,” Grossman said. “They are fighting for a cause, fighting for a reason.”
If the Downtown student government Senate does wish to support this cause Grossman would consider it. However, he said not a single Downtown student government senator has yet approached him on this issue.
Miller and Hillyard say the campaign for the Arizona Vote for Student Equality will continue despite the measure failing. Miller said the strategy will now center on student outreach, mostly on Tempe campus.
“This is set back, but not a hindrance,” she said.
Hillyard said they will not focus efforts on the Downtown campus yet because the campus is too small.
“It’s not the same centrally located campus,” he said.
The ultimate goal is to approach representatives and senators to support a referendum on gay marriage and present the initiative to the state government.
Contact the reporter at josselyn.berry@asu.edu
