LGBTQ protest organizers rallied on the steps of Sikes Hall Tuesday afternoon, once again demanding amendments to the student code of conduct after marching under the same goal on April 14 of this year.
The April march was organized in response to a statement made by the Clemson College Republicans four days prior. The organization denounced Clemson’s approval of TigerLive’s 9th annual Drag Show, stating that it was “chock-full of sexual degeneracy.” In response, Clemson’s LGBTQ community organized a rally followed by a march through campus, chanting “trans lives matter” and “gay lives matter.”
The organization once again demands “revisions to the student code of conduct adding clear language that prohibits harassment and discrimination against transgender, gender nonconforming students and the wider LGBTQIA+ community.”
A complete list of their demands and further statements can be found on their Instagram @takebackpridecu.
Revisions to the student code of conduct were never made by the University, inspiring this follow-up march, with no less passion the second time around. A member of the student leadership had said that, while conversations were held and continue to be held with the University, they will continue protesting year after year until the administration shows support.
“We support our students’ ability to come together and express their views and appreciate them following the process to do so,” said Philip Sikes, University spokesperson, in a statement to The Tiger.
The Clemson College Republicans have responded in past Instagram posts to the Pride March demands, stating “speech is not violence.” The demanded changes to the student code of conduct have raised questions on potential infringement of free speech. Tankersley emphasized the point that “more rights for [them] does not mean more or less rights for [others].”
“I don’t think that the importance of what we’re doing today can be understated,” Pan Tankersley, a junior forestry resource management major and a student leader of the event, said.
The rally concluded at 5:30 p.m., leading into a march across campus, arriving at the Hendrix Student Center at 6 p.m., concluding the second “Take Back Pride” event of 2022.
