Homophobic response to ‘Learning’ disturbs viewer
By Ivan Wu
Recently, I watched the John Singleton movie Higher Learning.
Although not a masterpiece, this movie did succeed in provoking
plenty of reactions from its viewers. As I sat through the movie,
it was not so much its choppy presentation that disturbed me, but
rather the audience’s response to events in the film.
Any UCLA student who has watched Higher Learning undoubtedly saw
the parallels between Columbus University, the school depicted by
the film, and our own campus. Columbus University, an exaggerated
version of UCLA, has a diverse student body, the members of which
are divided primarily by ethnic and cultural lines. Students of
similar backgrounds and cultures tend to stick to themselves. The
movie consists of mostly antagonistic interactions between black
and white groups on campus, and this is where I first noticed a
bothersome audience reaction.
Audience members blatantly cheered for characters of their same
skin color, regardless of whether the character’s actions were
right or wrong. I believe that in today’s heterogeneous society,
siding with others based on skin color rather than on beliefs,
merit and actions destroys the ideals this nation was founded
upon.
The crowd response which bothered me most, however, concerned
the scenes portraying homosexuality. While I do not expect everyone
to be extremely comfortable with depictions of alternative
lifestyles, I was surprised by the audience’s laughter and mockery
during an intimate scene between two women characters. After all,
we do live in the most ethnically and culturally diverse city and
state in America, so I anticipate most of us have encountered
others with various sexual orientations.
I can only imagine how any gays or lesbians sitting in the
theater might have felt during those periods when their sexual
orientations were disrespected. They probably felt as I would if I
was laughed at because I am yellow  in other words, it would
not be a pleasant experience.
As with racism, much of this homophobia is likely due to
ignorance. Many people may not realize that homosexuality is often
not about preference, but biology.
What gives people the right to mock others for a characteristic
they may have no control over? The acceptance and respect of
people’s decision to choose an alternative lifestyle is the most
humane way to deal with it. Gays deserve the same respect that
women ask of men, blacks ask of whites or Buddhists ask of
Catholics.
If the general public becomes more aware and less prejudiced
toward gay and lesbian issues, we may have more hope in overcoming
all types of discrimination against those who are different from
ourselves.
Wu is a fifth-year senior majoring in cell and molecular
biology.