A panel of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender staff and faculty discussed their experiences of being openly gay at “Out on Campus,” the kickoff event of National Coming Out Week yesterday in the University Student Union.
Nancy Matthews, a Cal State Long Beach professor in the recreation and leisure studies department, discussed what her expectations of the West Coast were before leaving the East Coast to attend Scripps College.
“I thought I was coming to a mecca of liberal identity,” Matthews said.
Once on campus, Matthews noted that the atmosphere of the college was not a liberal one, but one constructed out of social class and traditional gender roles.
Dissatisfied with how she did not fit in the campus environment, Matthews decided to become active on campus. Within three months of arriving at Scripps College, she became the student body president.
“We can create the environment we want,” Matthews said.
Stacey Peyer, a consultant in the social work department, discussed how she had to hide her sexuality when she applied for her first job after graduating with Los Angeles County Department of Probation — a change from being openly gay while attending the University of Southern California.
“Ahead of time I asked what [my sexuality] would mean to my job, and I didn’t get a safe answer,” Peyer said. “So I lied.”
After getting hired, Peyer eventually came out to her co-workers, and keeping her sexuality under wraps was no longer an issue.
“There are enough places in this world where sexual orientation doesn’t matter,” Peyer said.
Henry Fradella, the criminal justice department chair, talked about how he did not discuss his sexuality as a professor in New Jersey.
“I didn’t have to hide [my sexuality], or be honest about it,” Fradella said.
Fradella finally came out when he was asked to speak at a candlelight vigil for Matthew Sheppard, a gay man who was beaten and killed because of his sexuality.
Fradella’s co-workers were less than accepting.
“They went from, ‘Hey, how are you doing?’ on a Monday to not talking to me for seven years on a Wednesday,” Fradella said.
When he moved to teach at CSULB, he was excited about the welcoming environment but it did not make things automatically easy.
“Working in a supportive environment doesn’t come without challenges,” Fradella said.
Michael Dumas, a professor in the advanced studies department in education and counseling, talked about how he got into a field where his sexuality was not in the forefront of things but still allowed him to do research on gay rights.
Dumas agreed with Fradella that CSULB has an “open climate” on campus, but the openness comes with a price of high-living costs.
“California has more rights [for homosexuals] than other states, but it doesn’t come without a price,” Fradella said.
The panel concluded with questions from audience members.
One student asked the panel if he should disclose his sexuality on his personal statement for graduate school applications.
“Know where you’re applying and reveal [your sexuality] if it is relevant,” Peyer said.
Another student asked how she could further the advancement of gay rights.
“Get out there and be an activist for your rights,” Fradella said.