Some praise protection of UAA gay students, staff

WASILLA — Although Mat-Su College Director Talis Colberg is silent this week on the recent decision by the University of Alaska Board of Regents to include sexual orientation in the university’s non-discrimination policy, others in the community are not shy in expressing their joy.

“The Mat-Su Borough School District has had the same thing in its handbook on student rights for years, so if a school district can do this, why not a public university?” said Sarah Welton, who not only sits on the local school board, but teaches two courses at Mat-Su College. “The college campus is very conservative in general. There are a lot of students and probably staff who identify with evangelical Christianity, but we need to understand and listen and speak respectfully to one another.”

Welton, who also works as a licensed therapist and has two gay brothers, said it’s unfortunate that gay and lesbian students at the college still do not feel safe enough to come out of the closet.

Having grown up with a father who was the only Baptist minister in their upstate New York community who would counsel gay men, Welton’s home was always one of acceptance and love of others.

“We always offered hospitality to the so-called ‘outcasts’ in the community,” she said Thursday. “We had unwed mothers visiting us and coming over for Christmas dinner. And the church had a bowling alley in the basement. My job when I was little was to set up the bowling pins. So, I was surrounded by the outcasts.”

She said one of her brothers recently was married to his male partner in Washington, D.C., and she couldn’t be happier for them.

“I love to go shopping with my brother-in-law,” she said. “He’s really into shoes.”

Her other gay brother was beat up during a mugging when he was visiting the other brother in D.C. She said that although she’s not certain he was targeted because he was gay, his effeminate mannerisms and speech may have triggered the assault.

Over her years in the Valley, Welton’s main mentor has been Howard Bess, who used to be the pastor where she now leads a Palmer congregation comprised of a variety of residents, including gay and transgender members.

Bess, who wrote a book in 1995 titled “Pastor, I Am Gay,” has been a champion for gay rights for nearly 40 years. He makes it clear, however, that he is not gay and doesn’t have any gay children or other family members who are.

“Discrimination of any kind is contrary to our whole philosophy of our life in this country,” Bess said. “This country is a melting pot. Everyone is welcome at the table. Everyone makes a contribution to the society.”

He said he feels discrimination against anyone for their sexual orientation is becoming less acceptable these days, although he realizes there are still many in the community who feel homosexuality is a sin and an “abomination.”

To him, it’s a matter of justice and ethics.

“I was never involved in anything where I was so absolutely sure I was right and would be on the winning side inevitably,” Bess said. “The more we live with openly gay and lesbian people, the more people will realize they’re normal people who happen to be drawn into an intimate relationship with someone of the same sex instead of the opposite sex. It’s not a threat to marriage for anyone. It’s not destroying society. Someday everyone will realize that.”

As for Colberg’s decision to not comment on the issue after being called repeatedly by the Frontiersman this week, Bess said that doesn’t surprise him.

“Talis is a good guy, he’s just conservative,” Bess said. “He’ll do a good job in every way and obey the law.”

Mat-Su College writing professor Pete Praetorius said he was surprised to learn UAA didn’t already have a policy protecting gay and lesbian students and staff.

Bess said he’s sure the next generation will be even more accepting of those with non-traditional orientation — just as overt racism has subsided since the passage of the Civil Rights Act.

“Give us another generation and it’ll be gone,” Bess said. “It’s just a process and it will continue to fade and be a non issue. Just like gay marriage will be a matter of national law soon.”

Contact K.T. McKee at kate.mckee@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.