Gay and greek: Members speak

Junior Kyle Brandle of Kappa Delta Rho made sure his fraternity brothers knew he was openly gay.\n"Nobody seemed to care," he said. "I joined like any other brother would."\nThough he missed the formal rush because he didn't know about it at the time and joined later, he said he feels proud and blessed that he has brothers who aren't making his orientation a big deal.\n"They aren't handling the issue, it's like it's not even there," he said. "That's the way it should be in the greek system."\nAn audience of about 100 attended a panel discussion to discuss "Being Greek and Gay" Tuesday night in Whittenberger Auditorium. Seven panelists spoke, representing various roles within the greek community.\nOne sorority sister, Kathleen Minahan, said her sexual orientation has caused unanticipated problems lately. She said she was asked not to wear her greek letters to the event, but Minahan would not confirm who had told her that.\n"I thought it was OK with my sisters," said Minahan, a member of Alpha Gamma Delta. "I didn't think there was an issue ... I don't know who has a problem with it. (They are) fabulous women. I wish they'd be more open-minded."\nPanhellenic Association President Jessica Borchert, who attended the event, said it's "unfortunate" Minahan doesn't feel supported by her sisters.\n"We're students of the University and the University clearly doesn't condone discrimination," she said. "At this time, the greek community does not have a policy on these things, and hopefully this will spearhead new discussions. At Panhellenic, we are trying to educate the community with this panel for example because ignorance can lead to fear."\nOne audience member was near tears when she heard the sorority sister's situation. She told her to stay confident, and remember her sorority sisters chose her to be in the sorority because they liked her, not because of her perceived sexual orientation. Her response was met with an enthusiastic applause and a comment from Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender Student Support Services Director Doug Bauder.\n"You shouldn't have to do all of the work right now," he said. "Our offices can help you come up with a plan. It's important that you're here tonight -- you're giving evidence that this is an issue."\nHe said whether out or not, not everyone in the greek system is straight, and it's important to understand what it's like for them.\nJessica Hoffman, president of Alpha Gamma Delta, was not available for comment by press time.\nEvent coordinator Phillip Bergmann is the political director of Hoosier Rights Campaign. He said the students' brotherhood and sisterhood are supposed to be of undying support and that he was the first openly gay pledge in Phi Kappa Theta at his fraternity at Carnegie Melon University, and wasn't sure how others might react.\nBut he said one brother stood up in a meeting to defend him.\n"We've liked Phil for weeks," he quoted the brother. "Why is it an issue now that we know he's gay? He's the same person."\nBergmann said he felt tremendous support from his fraternity brothers, and hoped this discussion panel would make it easier for others in the greek community to support their gay brothers and sisters.\nGraduate student Shannon Oltmann was in a sorority as an undergrad at DePauw University and came out to a friend in her house.\n"I was terrified of how friends and family would react," she said. She became alcoholic and depressed from being in the closet. Some time after she graduated, she talked with her sisters about her sexual orientation and said some of them had already considered that possibility, and were OK with it.\n"They said they'd throw me a shower before my commitment ceremony," she said. Still, Oltmann said she doesn't know how it would have been for her if she came out while living in the house.\nSenior Emily Sauter of Kappa Alpha Theta said she has a biological sister who is a lesbian, and said she wanted to sit on the panel because she wants people to understand that sexual orientation shouldn't affect a person's acceptance in an organization.\n"It's hard to be a leader," she said. "Fear comes from ignorance. We have to support those willing to be a poster child. We have to create an environment where people are comfortable with each other"