This is the typical reaction; sanitizing our indignation with buzz-words like "discourse" and "zero tolerance" makes us feel warm and fuzzy. But there seems to be no inclination to sit down and openly discuss discomfort with homosexuality.

Second, the mainstream University culture stigmatizes racist, homophobic and sexist discrimination or behavior. Thank goodness for that or else many of us would not be here. A hundred years ago, Harvard did not treat the "other" so kindly. Some former Harvard presidents would turn over in their graves if they saw who eats in the Faculty Club these days.

Whether or not you recognize it as your legitimate representative government, the Undergraduate Council has just spoken on our behalf when it passed a series of anti-homophobic bills last week. The University will now have to think again about its automatic policy of switching students out of their suites because they experience discomfort with the sexual orientation of their roommates.

Ironically, though, it is just this liberal acceptance that dangerously provokes those who harbor hate or prejudice to lash out violently. Homophobes are feeling pretty out of the loop these days.

Luckily, we all benefit from a liberal mainstream which marginalizes intolerance. But, yet, it is just this assumption that the guy next to you in section is as comfortable as you are with differences that precludes actually asking him. Discussion and debate would be a far more constructive way to express homophobia than violent attacks.

Especially in this era of House randomization, I am sure you could find someone in your entryway who holds less-open views. Would you then have the guts to hear her out and debate her, instead of rolling your eyes and walking away, muttering "bigot?"

At the protest rally on Tuesday, BGLTSA co-chair Michael K. T. Tan '01 implored members of the Harvard community to serve as "straight allies," defending gay rights even if they themselves were not affected.