By Ta’Chelle Jones, News Writing Student
A gay pastor, two married transgendered women, a lesbian and a social worker shared their stories of coming out and dealing with social hatred during a panel discussion on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights June 30 on campus.
The diverse panel made up of men and women from different backgrounds and sexual orientations addressed an audience of students from professor Greg Parks Introduction to Psychology course.
Panelists said they wanted to share their individual experiences with students and the community in hopes of spreading messages of tolerance and equality.
Participating in the panel was a way to give back to the community and to open some barriers, said Georgie Russell, a transgendered female who is married to a woman.
During the three hour question-and-answer session, students asked more than 75 questions to the panelists about their experiences that have spanned several decades.
One panelist, Rob Howard, who said he came out to his wife and family after being married for several years, said he had no choice but to tell his secret.
“I could not lie to myself, my wife, my mother,” Howard said. “It was liberating.”
Though he said he felt freed by his acceptance, society felt differently.
“You get the message from society that [being straight] is the way things ought to be,” he said.
Robert Grupe, Peer Recovery Support specialist, said the pressure society places on people in the gay and lesbian community causes many to engage in substance abuse and or become mentally ill.
“I am very sad to see abuse and mental health issues go untreated because they are afraid to ask for help because they’ll be judged,” Grupe said. “In the gay community, we need to peel off these barriers and get them some help.”
One topic that was animatedly discussed during the session was gay marriage. Panelists said they felt they are being stripped of many rights.
“There are 1,100 federal rights that are excluded from gay (and) lesbian couples,” Howard said. “It’s really a human rights issue.”
Students said they found the panel to be both enlightening and necessary.
“Overall the gay community is preoccupied with equal rights,” said Rachel Warren, freshman. “It is critical for school to teach tolerance and to treat people like human beings.
“That’s what college should stand for.”
No comments:
Post a Comment