In an HCA Talk titled, “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” a communication studies professor said marriage equality is a major modern social justice issue that will be studied in the future.
Professor Meredith Bagley said there is a groundswell of interest and momentum around the issue.
“That is important to pay attention to and is valuable to engage in the struggles of your age. Most of us have to rely on our parents to talk about the civil rights activism or feminist activism,” Bagley said. “We missed out on that, but we’re alive and kicking right now and there are activism, social engagement, and leadership opportunities. People could be studying us in 50 years.”
Bagley focused on the language used to define the issue.
“Anti-gay rights groups focus on the act,” Bagley said. “Pro-gay rights groups focus on the individual. Each group is framing the argument in different terms and are unable to find common ground because of the language used.”
Chase Hudson, a junior majoring in English and philosophy, said the issue affects an individual’s life in many ways.
“Marriage equality has obvious political implications,” Hudson said. “But, past that, it dictates our lives in general: how families are run, how children are raised, how the next generation is brought up, how our worldview is formed.”
Despite Alabama’s historical unwillingness to embrace wide change, Hudson said he is optimistic for the future of the state.
“We don’t always change as aptly, but I think there is always hope,” Hudson said.
Bagley disagreed, pointing to the conflicts between states and the U.S. federal government.
“I think that the Deep South will probably be a holdout, and you always have to take into account the tension between the federal government and the states over sovereignty,” Bagley said.
HCA Talks, an Honors College program, tries to foster discussion among students and campus professors.
“It starts out with the professor presenting what their ideas are, but then professors typically like having group involvement which leads to a general dialogue,” Hudson said.
Kindle Williams, a freshman majoring in chemical engineering, said HCA Talks provide a good opportunity for students to explore topics outside of the classroom.
“I don’t get to think about anything outside of the box of chemical engineering,” Williams said. “It’s an opportunity to learn about things outside of my major.”
Williams said the talks are not like a typical formal presentation lecture.
“I feel like it’s more of a conversational setting,” Williams said. “Some people will think that it’s a formal presentation, but it really is more of a discussion where we don’t have to worry about grades.”
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