Allies speak out during Pride Week event

When Pittsburgh Art Institute freshman Wyatt Natzic walked out of a bar in Pittsburgh a while… When Pittsburgh Art Institute freshman Wyatt Natzic walked out of a bar in Pittsburgh a while ago, a group of people attacked him — solely because he was gay.

“I don’t particularly like to talk about this because I try to not remember the unpleasant memories,” Natzic said.

Moments after the initial attack, two of his best friends rushed to his side and wrestled the people away.

“Without them, I’d be dead,” Natzic said. “So I know that those two friends are fine with me being gay.”

Pitt’s Rainbow Alliance hosted a “Speak Out” event last night in Posvar Hall to honor the allies of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community. About 25 people attended the event.

Rainbow Alliance, an organization that provides for the interests of the LGBTQ community, welcomed people to stand up and share stories about why they support LGBTQ individuals and their rights. The event was part of their Pride Week on campus.

Pitt’s Pride Week is independent of the city’s Pride Week, which will run from June 3-12 this year.

“It’s really important that you’re not embarrassed about supporting gay rights,” Rainbow Alliance President James Weaver said.

Rainbow Alliance Vice President Dylan Drobish asked the people in attendance who they define as an “ally.”

Natzic said, “It’s when the avengers are fighting the defenders, and they are fighting Dr. Doom.”

Drobish said he thinks that there are a lot of people who say they are allies, and he appreciates that, but he thinks that allies need to remember that actions speak louder than words.

“Anything ever happen when someone thought the person was an ally, and didn’t step up?” he asked the crowd.

After several nods, Natzic talked about another time he was leaving a bar and someone came up to him and started saying derogatory things to him. A person that he thought was his friend didn’t defend him.

Drobish also said that an ally loves those in the LGBTQ community for who they are, instead of merely tolerating them.

Rainbow Alliance executive assistant Melissa Tabak said that a friend of hers told her that when he came out to his parents, they kicked him out of the house. Tabak was there to accept him for who he was.

The incident made her reflect on her own experiences.

“Sometimes I forget that I have amazing allies in my life,” Tabak said. “But some people don’t have allies in their lives.”

Tabak said that she is incredibly fortunate that her parents accept that she is gay.

Pittsburgh Art Institute sophomore Dwayne Wiggins said that he knows most of his 1,258 friends on Facebook would defend him.

“As much as people will try to tear me down, I know that my friends will be there for me,” Wiggins said.

He said in high school he always had friends who supported him, so he was able to be more comfortable.

“I’ve always been myself, I’ve never tried to be anything different,” Wiggins said.

Drobish said that despite a few bad instances, “There are people out there who have positive examples of allies in their lives.”

Weaver said that when he came out to his conservative family during his freshman year of high school, he was particularly touched by how his brother accepted him.

He said now his brother is really open about who he is and will say, “James is my gay brother, and sometimes he does drag.”

Pride Week continues tomorrow night with a lecture by syndicated columnist Dan Savage in David Lawrence Hall at 8:45 p.m.. The drag show will be in William Pitt Union at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday.