Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor:

   It finally happened. Today, walking across campus, I walked past a group of students sitting around discussing their favorite bands.

   Then, I heard the words I was hoping I’d never hear, yet knew I eventually would: “Oh, they’re so gay.”

   What set my teeth on edge is that I am gay, and I always cringe when someone utters the word gay as a synonym for stupid.

   It’s as if the speaker is saying I am stupid.

   I run Spectrum, the gay/lesbian alliance on the NE Camus, and I am encouraged by the generally positive response from both the campus gay community, and from straight students as well. With a few exceptions, everyone on campus seems to realize that gay and lesbian individuals are no different from anyone else and have the same rights and responsibilities of any other student.

   It is only on those rare occasions, like today, that I realize there is still homophobia on campus, and as long as there are those on campus who equate gay with stupid, we all still have a long way to go.

Bryan S. Cather
President, NE Spectrum