Under the cover of darkness on the night of October 9, an unknown number of individuals stole LGBTQ+ flags off the mall. These flags were placed by ’shOUT – creating “Rainbow Road,” a tradition that commemorates LGBTQ+ History Month. A member of ’shOUT was walking across the mall when he noticed that the flags around the flagpole and near Pioneer Chapel were missing. The flags were replaced by members of ’shOUT the next day. On October 11, a number of the replanted flags had been uprooted and knocked over.
David Leal ’26, the current president of ’shOUT , is deeply frustrated by these acts of hatred towards the LGBTQ+ community and hopes that the perpetrators would reflect more sincerely about what it means to be a Wabash man.
“To those individuals, I ask you to reflect deeply,” said Leal. “What is it about a small flag that stirs such hatred or discomfort within you? What drives you to act on that hatred in the darkness of night, when no one is watching? As someone who has met people like you before, I understand that differences in beliefs and thoughts exist. But Wabash challenges us to be gentlemen, to think critically, to engage honestly and to congruent discomfort through conversation, not destruction.”
The Wabash administration – which students know tends to stay in the background unless necessary – feels the same as Leal.
“This is not acceptable and this is not what we want from our students,” said Dean of Students Scott Brown. “A gentleman will not tolerate bigotry in his community, because a gentleman protects and preserves what is special in his brother. Because every brother is special.”
The attack on members of the LGBTQ+ community is not a unique one – in fact, this instance marks the second year in which pride flags were taken from the Mall, and it doesn’t stop there.
In fall 2024, however, all of the flags were taken from the Mall and thrown away into the dumpster behind the Beta Theta Pi and Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternities. Preceding that, on two separate occasions homophobic slurs were spray painted at the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. However, for the brave few, these events only inspired unity.
Earlier that day of October 9, Chris Board ’27 and Brady Largent ’27gave chapel talks in honor of LGBTQ+ History Month. In Largent’s Chapel Talk, “Tolerance v. Acceptance,” he talks about his tumultuous experience during these events and the response of the Wabash community to the Delta Tau Delta incident.
“I was relieved that other people were there to stand with us and back us when we needed it,” said Largent. . “Members of the Wabash community stood with us to send a message: we want more. We want acceptance.”
These acts have done nothing to deter the LGBTQ+ community of Wabash. After the slurs were spray painted on the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, students organized a silent protest in Lilly Library. When the flags were stolen off the mall last year, faculty donated their personal LGBTQ+ flags to replace the ones that were stolen and students stayed out on the mall to guard them. This year, in similar fashion, students sat on the mall throughout the night to protect the remaining flags.
In spite of homophobic sentiments being a point of contention at Wabash, this year the story does not appear to be about hatred. It seems to be about the resilience of ’shOUT and the wave of support that Wabash students and faculty have shown them.
Chris Board, a member of ’shOUT, found a lot of comfort in the week. He was surprised at the flags being stolen but not for the reason that you might expect.
“We were expecting something to happen to be honest,” said Board. “The fact that it was so much smaller this year makes me feel a lot better. Stealing flags off the mall is not going to silence anyone. The amount of support outweighs the amount of hate and that is so important to me. Those people have to steal stuff undercover and be hidden, versus being outspoken. I find so much comfort knowing that I have people who would stand by my side and support me and support ’shOUT.”
This event seems to have taken many students back to the roots of what Wabash preaches: an open brotherhood where people can embrace their differences and find support.
“’shOUT isn’t here to create separation on campus,” said Board. “They’re here to be a part of that brotherhood that Wabash had flaunted to them on their visits here. Putting those flags out [on the mall] is our way of saying that we love this brotherhood as much as you do. People taking away those flags just means they’re not following the rule they signed up to follow, and that just disrespects the brotherhood and the community.”
This event seems to have done nothing to distract students from their original message. In fact, it only seems to have increased the vigor with which they send that message.“I am here for you,” said Leal. “’shOUT is here for you. Our faculty, staff and students are here for you. The majority of this campus stands with you. Do not let this moment of ignorance distract you from a month of celebration, reflection and pride. Together, we continue moving forward. Stronger, louder and prouder than ever.”