MCC group spotlights violence against LGBTQ

McHenry County College looks like a major crime scene this week, but not because any violence has taken place there. Instead, it's because the student group Pride is putting the spotlight on violence in order to combat it.

The college's hallways are dotted with the outlines of 10 bodies in white duct tape, each flanked by a photo and description of a different member of the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) community who was either murdered in hate crimes or committed suicide because they were being bullied.

Among them are Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old gay student at the University of Wyoming who was tortured and killed in 1998, and Jamey Rodemeyer, a 14-year-old from Williamsville, N.Y., who committed suicide in September after being bullied because of his sexuality.

MCC student and Pride Vice President Nicholas Clark, 19, of Crystal Lake, said he thought that having people — literally — stumble upon the display would make them take pause. Nicholas said he and Pride President Margi Tinberg, also a student at MCC, took the lead on the project. “I thought about crime scenes you see on TV. People gather around, look at it and it makes them think,” he said. “It makes a statement.”

On Thursday morning, several students indeed stopped and took a look.

Jonathan Pedersen, 19, of Wonder Lake, and Andrew Braddy, 21, of Marengo, said they made it a point to check out every one of the 10 displays. “It really has an effect,” Pedersen said. “It's even more surprising because it even happens in the military,” he said, looking a photo of Allen R. Schindler Jr., a gay member of the U.S. Navy who was murdered by a shipmate in 1992.

Sitting at a table nearby, student Katie Diakow said the display elicits sadness. “All those people that were killed or committed suicide,” she said. “People stop and reflect about that.”

Reaction hasn't all been positive, with some students mocking the displays, Nicholas said. “We got some negative comments because they don't understand — or don't want to,” he said.

But the point is to make people think, and send the message that there are support systems for those who are being bullied because of their sexuality, Nicholas said. “They don't have to be afraid,” he said.

Pride will hold a memorial in the MCC courtyard at 9 a.m. Friday in the courtyard of the college at 8900 Route 14 in Crystal Lake. About 50 biodegradable balloons will be released in the air in remembrance of members of the LGBTQ community who committed suicide.