Dan Savage has been known for his racy remarks about sex and sexuality but some of those comments have passed racy and gone into what some consider derogatory. Past remarks about bisexuality, transgender and women have upset some members of the LGBTQ community and some of those upset members are UO students.
Savage was brought to the UO on Oct. 15 to help promote the UO Health Center’s app SexPositive with a live Q&A at the Ford Alumni Center. Tickets sold out, but his presence was unwanted by some. On a previous visit to the UO campus in 2011, Savage was glitter-bombed and accused of being a transphobic individual.
Theta Pi Sigma, a UO frarority, made it clear that Savage was not welcome on this campus with speech not inclusive to all. “Dan Savage Go Home,” was a protest planned by the group to take place outside of the Ford Alumni Center while Savage spoke. The group aimed to shine light on the controversial issues Savage has been apart of as well as to create conversation with people attending the event.
Theta Pi Sigma was founded in 2011 with the goal to create a more inclusive Fraternity and Sorority life on campus. The group is passionate about inclusion to all and any acts of biphobia, misogyny and transphobia are not welcome, according to Truth Mallon, a member of Theta Pi Sigma.
Earlier in the day, the group arranged a restorative justice meeting with Savage in order to voice their concerns of having him on campus. Based on the outcome of the meeting, the group would either cease the protest or continue on with it.
In an Emerald interview, Savage said he was looking forward to the meeting with the group of students to carry out conversation regarding their concerns.
Mallon was excited for the opportunity to speak with Savage and voice concerns regarding his presence on this campus.
“We’re really hoping that in the conversation he really listens and carries what we say with him as he’s speaking on our campus,” Mallon said.
Despite the meeting, Theta Pi Sigma decided to continue on with the protest mainly because of Savage’s lack of growth on the issue of bisexuality and bisexual erasure — a way of reducing visibility to those who identify as bisexual.
Group members took this remark as excluding a large portion of the LGBTQ community and find it unacceptable on this campus, which is why they chose to continue on with the protest.
Theta Pi Sigma does acknowledged the progress Savage has made in the past 15 years, such as him dropping the transgender slur much of his controversy stemmed from, but still do not welcome him here to campus.
“It does show that he is growing as a person but as of right now we’re still not comfortable with him on our campus,” Mallon said.