The Residence Halls Association members voted 17-1 with six abstentions to send two letters to people involved with a Toughman Contest last month.
Representatives will send one letter to MSU’s Alliance of Lesbian-Bi-Gay-Transgendered and Straight Ally Students and another letter to AdoreAble Promotions Inc.
Members of the LBGT community became concerned after the promotions company put on a “homosexual match” during the competition last month, which pitted two men in a mock bout.
RHA’s special events program sponsored the trip to the contest at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Jan. 11. Students from the University of Michigan also attended the event.
In the letter to the promoter, RHA stated it will no longer support or promote any of its events.
“With this letter, we have emphasized we support LBGTA,” said Jeff Donofrio, RHA’s director of public relations.
The letter to AdoreAble Promotions states, “This match was not only offensive to those in attendance, but also insensitive, degrading and emotionally damaging to the LBGTA community and women.”
“I would like them to realize this is an important issue, and that they did a disservice to both universities and to the LBGTA community,” Donofrio said.
He said RHA hopes other organizations will boycott the company.
The second letter will be an apology to the LBGT community stating RHA’s disapproval of the promoter and the contest. Some RHA members said the group should not apologize for the event because it did not plan it. Members of the LBGT community originally threatened to seek a refund of the $21 RHA tax.
In the letter, the association said, “We regret the fact that student tax dollars were used to send participants to this event.”
Some representatives said RHA’s actions letters were commendable.
“I find it rather acceptable considering what they went through to settle this issue,” said Patrick Walker, RHA representative for Brody Residents In Great Harmony Together, one of the LBGT caucuses. “It’s definitely a step in the right direction.”
