Homosexuality in fraternities addressed

Capping off Pride Week, OUT sponsored a lecture Friday night discussing the pros and cons of being homosexual in the greek system. Pam Freeman, assistant dean of students, discussed with the small audience the issues that face gay, lesbian and bisexual members of sororities and fraternities. \n"The main issues facing gay, lesbian and bisexual members are whether or not they can be out and accepted," she said. "Another important aspect is how straight students react to these members."\nFreeman discussed several stories of people coming out in their chapters as compiled for the two books she has edited: "Out on Fraternity Row" and "Secret Sisters." The two books collected the stories of gay, lesbian and bisexual members of the greek system with the Lambda 10 Project, a Web site that serves as an information source for greeks of different sexual orientation.\n"People go through eight stages when coming to grips with their own homosexuality," Freeman said. "The books follow the way members cope with the different stages."\nFreeman had members of the crowd read several excerpts from the books, which illustrated how painful the coming-out process can be for greeks. She said fraternity members fear violence and general homophobia, while sorority members fear rejection.\nFreeman also said many national headquarters are making positive steps toward addressing this issue.\n"Sigma Phi Epsilon nationals wrote a section about sexual orientation into its bylaws," she said. "Does this mean that there are no incidents of homophobia in that fraternity's chapters? Certainly not, but it is a step in the right direction."\nFreeman also said sorority nationals are slower to adapt than fraternities. Included in the forward of "Secret Sisters" is the letter that a sorority's national headquarters sent out urging members not to participate in the Lambda 10 story collection. \nOn the Lambda 10 Web site, Sheila Kuehl, the first openly gay member of the California Assembly and a Phi Mu sorority sister, said the project teaches about the issues facing sorority members.\n"It teaches, in the most intimate way possible, the complex lessons of embrace and rejection of sisters," she said. "Lesbians do not want to be 'accepted.' We want to be, and have, sisters."\nSenior Todd Sullivan is aware of the perils and benefits of being openly homosexual in the greek system. He participated in formal recruitment his sophomore year and made the decision to join Kappa Sigma; he did not tell his new brothers that he was gay. His sexual orientation did not remain a secret for long.\n"I came out to one of the guys in the house," Sullivan said. "And pretty soon the word traveled to one more brother, then two or three more. I knew it was going around the house, so I decided to confirm the rumor at a chapter meeting."\nThough Sullivan felt it necessary to come out, he was not sure what the reaction of his brothers would be.\n"I was fully prepared to leave," he said. "I would have been hurt, but I would have understood. I am the first openly gay member of my chapter."\nInstead of rejecting him, Sullivan's brothers saw past stereotypes.\n"I haven't had any problems," he said. "I am a member of my chapter before I am gay. In fact, more members of my chapter have come out since I have. One even brought his boyfriend to our formal dance"