The Facts: Last Wednesday, the Student Senate voted on donating $1,000 to the GLBT Center to make their “I heart diversity” shirts supporting National Coming Out Day.

Our Opinion: This support is bigger than T-shirts, as it aids in spreading awareness of diversity, which is greatly needed now that North Carolina’s amendment to ban gay marriage is coming up for a vote.

Student Government’s support for the GLBT Center will help the center spread awareness and knowledge about gay rights, This is an important issue, considering that North Carolina will soon face the issue head-on in the state’s primary elections on May 8th.

October 11th marks National Coming Out Day. The GLBT Center will be promoting diversity and minority awareness by passing out “I heart diversity” shirts as one of their functions in a week-long event for Coming Out Week. Student Government, CSLEPS and University Dining will be contributing money for the production of these shirts.

The money allocated from the Student Senate’s finance committee, as well as donations from other sponsors, will be enough to double the original 300 shirts the center planned to give out. This means the awareness and display of appreciation for homosexuality will only increase with support from other student organizations.

The money from Student Government and other sponsors will aid funding of these awareness shirts. The GLBT Center has already allocated funds to this project. However, any support will only better the outcome of such a project.

Student Government is setting an example for other student organizations to donate and support the GLBT Center’s attempt to spread awareness.

With the proposed amendment to North Carolina’s constitution continuing through the wringer on the floor of our legislature, more than ever, now is the time to make N.C . State’s view on the issue public. With these shirts, which will promote the center’s event, and also their cause, the views of N.C . State will be made known. This will help aid students and faculty in opposition to this anti-gay legislation.

While some do not feel the same way, many students are discussing this unnecessary piece of legislation and voicing their opinions. These shirts  will demonstrate the voice of student supporters and may even aid in putting the amendment to rest.

More organizations should financially support this project if they support the cause. Let your voices be heard about this issue, which can be done by supporting the GLBT Center in their endeavors.

According to the Student Senate, the support for the piece of legislation approving this donation was an overwhelming majority—this shows they’re leading through example in this matter.