He added that “idiots like Gladden Pappin” are “lonely idiots” without many supporters.
The climax of the debate came when Pappin took the floor to offer his own views to the council.
As he walked to the front of the room, the council suddenly fell silent.
“I think the real issue is not to pretend that intolerance toward homosexuality is on the rise. I don’t think it is,” Pappin said.
“Homophobia is not based on anxiety or fear. It’s based on disgust for homosexual sexual actions,” Pappin said, just as his speaking time of about one minute ran out.
After several minutes of debate, the council voted to extend Pappin’s time on the floor.
“Anyone who wants to consider me a homophobe should also label me a ‘heterophobe,’” Pappin said, explaining his opposition to all sexual license.
After the emotional speeches, the council approved the bill.
Agarwalla and Barro, along with Thomas J. Mucha ’03, who called homophobia at Harvard “a relatively small problem,” cast the only votes against the bill. Aaron D. Chadbourne ’06 abstained.
Agreement, For A Change
Thomas J. Wright ’06 and President-elect Rohit Chopra ’04 sponsored a measure encouraging the Faculty of Arts and Sciences to renegotiate its lease on the Rieman Dance Center.
Ryuji Yamaguchi ’03, a Harvard dancer, warned the council that the loss of Rieman “is going to affect the entire undergraduate community,” forcing dancers to find space by pushing out other student groups.
Wright concurred, although he acknowledged the limits of the resolution.
“I would agree it’s not an action-oriented bill, but I think it’s still important,” he said.
The measure passed without opposition.
Another bill, sponsored by Colin S. Kelly ’05 and also passed without contest, allocated $95 to serve hot chocolate to students during exam period.
The final uncontested bill, sponsored by all the presidential and vice-presidential candidates in the council’s elections last week except for David M. Darst ’04, thanked the council’s Election Commission for its work coordinating the elections.
—Staff writer Alexander J. Blenkinsopp can be reached at blenkins@fas.harvard.edu.