A radio station contest that had a rule excluding same-sex couples removed the restriction Thursday after the UW-Madison Campus Women's Center threatened to protest the event.
Z104's 'Kiss Off' is a marathon contest in which couples kiss for a prolonged period of time. The contest, which was to be held at West Towne Mall, had a rule excluding same-sex couples from participating. This rule was removed Thursday when an announcement was posted on Z104's website apologizing and saying the rule 'should not have been included.' However, the location of the contest was changed from West Towne to the Z104 station.
UW-Madison junior Stephanie Halfmann of the Campus Women's Center said her organization sent e-mails to campus listserves and put up flyers in coordination with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Campus Center this week to protest the discriminatory contest.
She said Thursday the Women's Center was pleased Z104 rescinded the rule but expressed continued concern over the surrounding circumstances.
'Its interesting to us that they had to move locations in order to take this rule out of play, which seems to indicate that West Towne Mall still had a problem admitting same-sex couples into the competition,' Halfmann said.
Paul Matyas, general manager of West Towne, said it was Z104's decision to change locations, and the mall had no comment about the contest or the allegations of discrimination.
'It's a sensitive issue with everybody involved and we're first and foremost'West Towne's a place of commerce''?and we remain neutral on an issue like this,' he said.
Eric Trekell, director of LGBTCC, said his organization remains concerned about West Towne's perceived stance on the issue.
'I think it's really very important, actually, when you consider the fact that we had the Ogg Hall incident last December, and just last week we had a gay-bashing at East Towne Mall,' Trekell said, referring to an alleged hate crime committed in Ogg Hall Dec. 21 and an altercation that occurred in the East Towne Mall parking lot Tuesday when two individuals were allegedly harassed because of their sexual orientation.
Halfmann said the Women's Center received ample community support in their efforts to get the rule changed.
'The response to this has been really encouraging, and we really just hope the Madison community will rally behind us in other issues,' she said.
