Gay, lesbian and bisexual people are everywhere. They’re your classmates, co-workers, teachers, friends and family members. If you don’t already know this, you will find out eventually. Saint Louis University supports its GLBT students, and groups like Rainbow Alliance will make thier presence known.
By my junior year at SLU, I thought that I was OK with gay people. Then, I got a new roommate named Ian, who was gay. I knew that everything would be fine, that he wouldn’t make inappropriate advances on me, or watch me change or any of the other stupid things that straight guys worry about-but I was still a little worried.
As soon as I got to know Ian, all of my fears evaporated.
Ian was easy to live with, and he had a wonderfully bizarre sense of humor. Rooming with Ian set me free in a way; I never again felt uneasy about someone’s sexuality.
I have many gay, lesbian and bisexual friends now. I go to gay clubs with them and dance with both guys and girls. We make gay jokes. Some-times, my gay or lesbian friends allow me to witness the tenderness of a kiss; they know that I will see its beauty, and that I will not objectify or judge them.
I get to join my GLBT friends in celebrating who they are, and stand beside them when they face discrimination.
My friends face discrimination every day. Try to think of the last time that you saw two people of the same sex holding hands, out on a date or kissing in public. It is pretty uncommon. Even our Catholic education teaches us to look down on homosexual relationships.
When my friends and I go to bars like Humphrey’s or Laclede’s, they know that they might receive some hostility for being gay. But they don’t let fear keep them from experiencing life. They have the right to be openly gay in Humphrey’s or dance with other guys in Laclede’s.
Sometimes people assume that I am gay because I have so many GLBT friends and feel strongly about GLBT issues. That’s fine by me. My friend Justin calls me “gay by association.” It let’s me know that he appreciates what I do to support him and our other GLBT friends.
As Americans, we are all expected be tolerant of other people. This is a good thing. If you do not discriminate against GLBT people or use homosexual slurs, you fulfill an obligation as a member of a free society.
However, if you have the courage to go beyond tolerance, you may receive something in return.
Get to know a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender person, and try to give up your assumptions about that person. If you do this, you may never be able to stomach the words “faggot” or “dyke” again. People may get sick of you telling them not to use “gay” as a term for things that they don’t like. If you become too aware, and care too much, people might get confused about you. You may even have the privilege of being called gay or lesbian by association.
John Nolan is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences.
