Speaker tells students to break the 'cycle of invisibilty' surrounding homosexuals

Michael Thompson
Staff Writer

   Shane L. Windmeyer spoke on campus Oct. 7 about the collegiate experience of gay and lesbian students.

   "If you leave here with anything it should be the response to this question. What would you do if your best friend told you they were gay?"

   That was how Windmeyer started as he challenged students to break the "cycle of invisibility" that surrounds gay students at colleges all across the country.

   Windmeyer has been touring approximately 200 college campuses helping students learn about homosexuality within fraternities and sororities.

   Windmeyer asked several straight audience members to come up and participate in a game show to figure out each students "Gay Point Average." The game consisted of several questions designed to learn how much straight students knew about the various symbols used by the gay community.

   Some general knowledge shared was the rainbow colors of the gay flag and the inverted pink triangle used by homosexuals and straight supporters.

   The inverted pink triangle serves not only as a symbol for the gay movement but also as a reminder of the persecution gays and lesbians suffered in Nazi Germany in WWII.

   "Already Muskingum College has a higher aptitude of gay knowledge" said Windmeyer after the game show.

   Windmeyer explained the various emotional and social hurdles that gay and lesbian students may face in their experience at college.

   Windmeyer explained that college is a time when many students are learning about themselves and their own sexuality, and that it is important that students have a safe comfortable environment in which to do so.

   The first step for Windmeyer was to demolish any various stereotypes held by society about homosexuals and their motivations for joining fraternities and sororities.

   According to Windmeyer, most gay or lesbian students join these organizations for the same reason straight people join.

   Windmeyer went on to say that Fraternities and sororities provide friendships, comradery, belonging, and other social aspects that both straight and homosexual students can benefit from.

   Windmeyer told students how "coming out" and announcing to a fraternity or sorority that someone is gay can be a trying time for students.

   Windmeyer stressed that it is important for straight members to be tolerant and understanding.

   Windmeyer told the audience about his experience in college and that if it weren't for the understanding nature of his brothers coming out would have been difficult.

   "Most people know they are gay but coming out of the closet is difficult" said Windmeyer.

   In his own experience Windmeyer found that it was easiest to come out to a few people first in order to test the waters.

   He now continues his tour of colleges and universities across the U.S. in order to help gay and lesbian students in their efforts to achieve equality and comfort among the Greek communities on their respective campuses.

   For more information on how to help in stopping hate related crime and homophobic behavior on campus you can visit:

   The Association of College Unions website at www.stophate.org,

   The National Network for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Student Leaders website at www.campuspride.org, or

   The National Clearinghouse for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Fraternity and Sorority Issues website at www.lambda10.org .

Have a comment? Please e-mail us.