“The Original Cross Has Been Stolen.”
Many students are coming across these words as they pass the wooden cross near the Quad. Saint Louis University Campus Ministry started the project where different chartered student organizations sponsor a cross and then decorate it with a current issue that relates to the students. This specific cross belonged to Rainbow Alliance, an organization that fights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights. The topic that they had to parallel the cross with was condemned death.
“I decided to create a cross that depicted LGBTs who are condemned in the world today,” Finni Finocchiaro, member of Rainbow Alliance and designer of the cross, said. “That’s why I based my design of the cross on three different ideas. The first is how, in some states like Uganda and Saudia Arabia, there is a state-sanctioned death penalty for homosexuals. The second idea is based on the fact that there have been actual hate crimes against homosexuals, like Matthew Shepard in 1998, and Jorge Mercado in November 2009. Finally, the cross is based on the grief that people carry in their heart when people call them ‘gay.’”
This design of the cross consisted of bullet holes, baseball bats and even chains that covered it.
“The cross was very visually alarming, and it was meant to cause people to think outside of their comfort zones,” Juliana Hulee Heck, president of Rainbow Alliance, said. Unfortunately, Department of Public Safety thought that it was an action against the LGBT, and they took it down.”
Although initially removed by DPS, the cross was replaced after a meeting with Rainbow Alliance, but, between the hours of 9 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. on Saturday, it went missing again.
“There have been many suspicions on who stole the cross- many have said that it could have been specifically targeted by a student, or it could have been the joke of a drunk student,” Heck said. “But regardless of who did it, the fact is that such a significant object that represents so many people was stolen, and that is unacceptable. That’s why the issue needs attention.”
A new cross was replaced near the Quad; it calls attention to the original stolen cross and also states facts about hate crimes related to the LGBT community.
The cross is not the only thing that is bringing attention to the LGBT community. Rainbow Alliance is also conducting the All of Us Campaign in order to create an awareness for others, to show them that they have a roll in the fight for equality.
“The All Us Campaign started last spring on the idea of three straight allies: myself, Carrie Bross and Katie Langley,” Thomas Bloom, vice president of Rainbow Alliance, said. “It is a straight ally-led initiative, where allies raise awareness to people who otherwise who don’t have an investment in the issue.”
Its first big event was the All of Us Campaign Photo Shoot; it was held in the SLU-TV room on Wednesday, Feb. 24. There, straight allies had to sign a pledge that said they would fight for and recognize LGBT rights in the community. The next step was to pose for a picture that will go on the poster that reads: “Let love in and be an ally.”
Danielle Dixon, a sophomore, attended the shoot.
“It’s not just oppressed African-American groups or other minorities that deserve the attention,” Dixon said. “The LGBT community is just as important, as seen by the stolen cross, and it can’t falter the cracks.”
Lauren Araujo, a junior, also participated in the photo-shoot, and helped conduct it.
“I dedicate a lot of my time for LGBT causes, and I don’t understand why you wouldn’t. I got involved last year, and one of the biggest reasons it needs to be fought is because there is so much resistance in the beginning,” Araujo said. “It was so mind-blowing that the administration didn’t understanding this campaign. I mean, I do understand that this is Catholic university, but this campaign is only creating a safer community.”
