Alternative sexuality in Greek life often kept in closet - Page 2

WSUcheer99 · #16 02-04-2005, 02:05 PM

I think it really depends on the organization and the chapter. I have heard of greek members (not at my school) making comments about being gay, or different in terms of race of religion and I just think it's sad. I think this is one of those topics, as well as another thread on a pregnant pledge, that depends on the views of where you are. If you are from a town that accepts the gay lifestyle compared to a place who thinks it sends people to hell, you are going to get 2 different chapter feelings

I think it is good that there is a gay fraternity for those who wish to join a greek org. and not have to be worried about the feelings and discriminatinos of others.

I have a good friend that I found out was gay and I never would have guessed it in a million years. He is not as outgoing to join a greek org, but for the most part he lives that portion of his life in secret as to not be discriminated against. Sad, sad, sad.

sfoc · #17 02-04-2005, 10:08 PM

hey guys -- first post

i thought it would be appropriate for me to chime in her cuz i'm gay and i'm also in a fraternity.

this is my whole take on my mere 2 weeks of fraternity life. honestly, I joined a fraternity mainly for the brotherhood -- for a place that could be myelf in a home away from home, and a place where i could feel like 'one of the guys.'

when i was rushing one of the biggest things that was on my mind was 'will these guys accept me if they find out i'm gay?' and i think i chose the right frat from me. my lambda chi chapter is so diverse, not just racially but in the types of guys that are in it. we've definitely got a big contingent of your stereotypical cool fratty dudes but we also have sensitive types, nerds, hippies, liberals, conservatives, moderates, christians, atheists etc. what i loved about it is that despite all these differences everyone has come together in one of the tightest brotherhoods i have seen among the different frats that i rushed. i didn't want to be a part of was a group of guys that all looked the same, and i think i did a good job of finding a place where i definitely feel like i fit in. i feel like i add variety as opposed to feeling like i stand out in a bad way. i also did some looking around to as which frats didn't discrimnate based on sexual orientation in their national bylaws.

some of the other frats talk shit about us, and they won't say it out loud, but i definitely think its because of vast diversity in our chapter and the types of guys we let in. my school as a whole is pretty homogenous, conservative and republican. only thing i have to say to that is, the real world isn't going to be people who are exactly like you, and i would rather learn from someone who is different than me, than get a rude awakening when fraternity life is over.

now i'm not out to my frat yet, because i don't want to get stereotyped before the guys get to know me. however when i do i'm hoping with all my might that my brothers will be mature enough to realize brotherhood doesn't discriminate.

EXiADPi · #18 02-04-2005, 11:58 PM

There was one bi and one lesbian girl in my sorority that actually dated each other. Everyone in the chapter and the greek system knew as well. One of my friends is openly gay and was featured in The Advocate. His brothers are very accepting of his openness and even some more brothers have come out. Our system is very open on accepting of everyone no matter what makes them an individual. I just wish the university would accept that notion toward greek life.

AXOhottie · #19 02-05-2005, 03:00 AM

My big sis is a lesbian. I love her, and I would never treat her differently because of it. It honestly isn't even something that crosses my mind on a regular basis. I've changed in front of her plenty of times and it doesn't bother me. She knows that I am straight and respects that, just like I respect her. Our entire chapter knows and nobody cares. She definately is not the first we've had, and I'm sure she won't be the last. Our chapter is generally extremely liberal, so that might have something to do with why we are accepting of it.

About half of one of our fraternities on campus is comprised of bisexual or gay men. The other fraternities are not quite as accepting as this one fraternity, but our campus in general does not degrade members of this fraternity because of the sexual orientation of some of the brothers.

The level that homosexual brothers and sisters are accepted probably also depends on the atmosphere on the campus. My campus is a small, liberal arts school with huge theater and music departments. In general, people are pretty liberal on my campus and are open to homosexuals in general.

RACooper · #20 02-05-2005, 03:35 AM

Bascially... coming from a chapter that had a brother come out (and me being the one he was most concerned about)... it comes down to this: is he a good Brother? regardless of his personal sexual preference, "race", religion, age, creed, background, whatever...

In this case he was a solid Brother so I didn't care one way or the other... what has bothered me (being a Rush Chair) is those who would join the Fraternity as a way to challenge the stereotypical image that they hold... people that define themselves solely by their sexuality, race, colour, creed, or beliefs... before defineing themselves by their actions and character - I have no problem of "going to bat" to defend their character and worth to the Fraternity or Chapter.

I have absolutley no problem whatsoever with a Brother (or girl in a Sorority) that is of sound character... no matter what else may define them...

James · #21 02-05-2005, 06:56 PM

If a goodlooking lesbian wants to join the fraternity I am sure we can make an exception . . . hot bi-sexual girls are preferred though

naraht · #22 02-07-2005, 05:35 PM

In some ways which school makes more of a difference than which GLO, but my experience was pretty good. I'm an alumnus of Alpha Phi Omega (co-ed non-housed) and at the chapter at Carnegie-Mellon, one of my two big-brothers was a gay male. He was out of the closet (secretary of the Gay & Lesbian organization on campus the semester before I pledged). My fraternity currently has its second openly gay man on the National board, the first was from California and represented the Pacific Coast, the current one is from Virginia and represents the mid-atlantic.

randy

Senusret I · #23 02-07-2005, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by naraht
.....My fraternity currently has its second openly gay man on the National board, the first was from California and represented the Pacific Coast, the current one is from Virginia and represents the mid-atlantic.

randy

Randy, just to show you how slow I am (or how not-active) I really had to stop and think "WHO?????" on that second one.

Soooooo slow I am. lol

lyrica9 · #24 02-07-2005, 06:44 PM

i know of one gay guy in a fraternity here, but i'm pretty sure a lesbian in a sorority would be seen as something horrible, unfortunately. we might be at a liberal-esque school, but its still a liberal-esque school in the middle of the bible belt. i know that when queer eye re-did the sigma chi house here some of the brothers were very, very against it. i can only think of two fraternities that would be mostly accepting of a gay brother, and i can't really see any of the sororities being welcoming of a gay sister..

Wine&SilverBlue · #25 02-07-2005, 07:22 PM

I think there are a few gay guys in fraternities at my school -- I can think of a few groups that are more tolerant than others. I know at least 5-6 lesbians that are all in one sorority on campus, and I'm assuming there are a few lesbians/bisexuals in each of them. There is nobody openly gay in my chapter, but I'm sure there are at least some people who are bisexual.

naraht · #26 02-08-2005, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Senusret I
Randy, just to show you how slow I am (or how not-active) I really had to stop and think "WHO?????" on that second one.

Soooooo slow I am. lol

That's OK, I had to think to come up with the first, I remembered he was gay, but didn't remember his name.

And on a broader context, he wasn't just out of the closet, he was *out* of the closet. During the National Convention, his Fraternity CV that was passed around for politicing for votes was on hot pink paper.

Randy

Little E · #27 02-08-2005, 10:05 AM

I'm glad we all know gay people. But why is it such a big deal to have a gay member of a glo?

naraht · #28 02-08-2005, 10:26 AM

Even having made all of these comments, I wish that it wasn't.

Randy

Sistermadly · #29 02-08-2005, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Little E
I'm glad we all know gay people. But why is it such a big deal to have a gay member of a glo?

In a word: reputation. We all like to pretend that we're all open minded and liberal (and maybe most of us are), but for every one of us who don't care that a brother/sister is gay/lesbian, there are many more who do care, and will make a point of trying to ruin your chapter's reputation.

If you're strong enough to take it, I applaud you. If you're a LGB person in a GLO - and you're out - you deserve a standing ovation.

Rudey · #30 02-08-2005, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Little E
I'm glad we all know gay people. But why is it such a big deal to have a gay member of a glo?

Why is anything a big deal?

People choose their members. They are free to choose on merit, race, looks, personality, sexual preference, and whatever else they choose.

Anyway, I would have an extreme problem with brothers dating. I guess those in co-ed fraternities don't have issues with that, but if you're all-male or all-female, it's different.

-Rudey