On Monday, April 18th, the day of Alabama's 11th Annual Lavender graduation, a lone outside agitator stood outside the Student Center with a sign that read, "HOT TAKE: NO ONE IS BORN GAY" in conjunction with the Alabama student organization affiliated with Turning Point USA, an organization led by a noted racist, homophobe, and transphobe. More information can be found from the Crimson White here: https://cw.ua.edu/98214/news/no-one-is-born-gay-tabling-event-sparks-protest/

In response, LGBTQIA+ students and their allies banded together and counter protested, telling him to "Roll On Out" and displayed various pride flags at the Student Center and the Student Services Center. While the circumstances were vile, we have nothing but "Roll Pride" for how these bold students behaved. 

We, the undersigned LGBTQ Alumni of The University of Alabama, wish to show our support to these brave LGBTQIA+ students who refused to be silent in the face of such hatred, and are heartened to see so many individuals and organizations on campus stand in solidarity with their LGBTQIA+ classmates and community members.

We also call on the System and University Administration to make a more bold statement in solidarity with these students and against anti-LGBTQIA+ hatred on campus and throughout the state.

With Alabama's recent anti-trans legislation endangering students, faculty, and staff, this incident highlights why the University needs to make a bolder proclamation about their support of the LGBTQIA+ community, which constitutes a significant and growing segment of Alabama's campus population.

We as alumni stand at the ready to support these students and to serve as a resource to the Administration so that they can continue to make improvements to the campus culture so it is more friendly to the LGBTQIA+ community. We acknowledge we have come a long way while we also have much further to go, and we hope to continue being an active part in pushing campus forward. Roll Pride.

Sincerely,