Gay teen suicides: The Greek perspective

While much progress has been made in the fight for equality for homosexuals, the struggle is far from over.

We, as college students, seldom think of ourselves as bigoted people, but for many of us (myself included), entrenched stereotypes can shape unfair opinions of people because of their sexual orientation.

These often lead to tragic results, as was seen in the heartrending case of 15-year-old Indiana high school student Billy Lucas, who recently committed suicide after being taunted about his sexuality by bullies at school.

As a straight member of the IU Greek community, this has become abundantly clear to me during my experience here. The terms “fag,” “homo” and “gay” are thrown around so carelessly and in such a derogatory manner that those students who struggle with their sexual identities retreat further into the closet for fear of social retribution for coming out.

Enter “IU Greek Project 10.”  This organization seeks to support closeted gay, bisexual and lesbian members of the Greek community as they struggle with their true identity.

The introductory e-mail, sent to all members of the IU Greek system, states that Project 10 will provide connections to counseling services and an outlet to meet with other students enduring similar struggles in the Greek community. (If you would like to find more information about Project 10, the introductory e-mail encourages students to e-mail “iugreek.project10@gmail.com” for more information).

The students behind Project 10 are to be applauded, but this systemic intolerance is found across campus, not merely within the walls of fraternities and sororities.

Support groups like Project 10 are found throughout campus, from OUT at Kelley to the GLBT Student Support Services.

However, it takes more than student centers and support groups (though they are indubitably helpful) to combat this problem; we as a student body need to commit to changing our mindsets and our vocabulary to become more accepting.

Regardless of your viewpoints on gay marriage or your faith’s positions toward homosexuality, we must take a stand to promote equality.

I, as a conservative, Christian Republican, understand my political party and my religion’s disagreements with, or policy positions toward, homosexuality.

But this is not a matter of faith or of politics; it is a matter of how we, as individual humans, treat our fellow man.

Stand up against discrimination.

Eliminate “fag” and “homo” from your ammunition belt of insults.

Be accepting and supportive if one of your fraternity brothers, sorority sisters, family members or dorm floor mates decides to confide in you that he or she is gay, lesbian or bisexual. Small steps will overcome this endemic problem.

Students across our country — from a Rutgers University student to a high school student in Texas — have been dying at an unacceptable rate as a result of bullying or taunting because of sexual orientation.

If we all stand together, we can ensure a tragic story does not occur here in Bloomington.


E-mail: jkingsol@indiana.edu