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Below is the Feb. 11 article "Is Gay the Way?" The writer has
since authored a follow-up piece. To read
his new article, "The Aftermath: Is Gay
the Way?" click on the link after the jump...
Original article below...
It’s no secret that the gay population on Morehouse's campus does not go unnoticed. Take a walk down Brown Street on a clear Spring day, and one will quickly learn that Morehouse College is an institution unlike no other for reasons far more than the "Morehouse Mystique."
Although Dr. Franklin has urged men of Morehouse on various occasions to treat each other with the utmost respect (especially homosexual students), I have noticed the prevailing discomfort between our heterosexual students and their homosexual counterparts.
You know how it goes: a cluster of openly gay students walk by. A group of heterosexual students suddenly stop what they’re doing to either avoid making any contact whatsoever, or look on with a sense of disgust. Or when class discussions happen to touch the topic of homosexuality, that one openly homosexual student steps up to the plate to defend himself and his lifestyle. The silence in the classroom confirms that no one wants to counter-respond for fear of coming off too strong. Awkward?
I don’t want to get into the religious, scientific, or philosophical debate about homosexuality. However, this taboo subject still merits great conversation.
This lovely man-producing institution, Morehouse College, contains many homosexual students- some openly and others not so much. Heterosexual students, through their unsettlement with this reality, tend to make gay slurs within the comfort of their friends, and homosexual students do whatever it is that they do behind close doors. That’s the reality.
Over the years, despite social divergence on campus, the Morehouse community has done its share to both accept and adjust to the growing homosexual population. But don’t you think this has gone too far? A boy with a pocket book is far.
It’s not so much that “straight” men of Morehouse are uncomfortable with the gay lifestyle, but moreso that the lifestyle is constantly and robustly thrown in their faces. Does being a gay man include adopting the traits of a woman? Because if that’s the case, there’s a more fitting school, and it’s not an all-male institution.
I’m all for being who you are. If you like women, go on and date women. If you like men, be my guest and date men. But if you are born a man, you should be just that—a man. If I have to look twice to tell if I’m looking at a man or woman on an all male campus, then something is tragically wrong.
At this rate, Morehouse College may find itself in a difficult situation. What happens if and when one of our gay Morehouse brothers decides to go the next step and undergo a sex-change operation, and is then physically considered to be a woman? Does Morehouse have the right to ask that student to leave?
A massive population of feminine males and possibly transgender students could harm the reputation of Morehouse and perhaps affect its admissions rate, thereby impacting the college's revenue. Would it be wrong for Morehouse to implement a new acceptance procedure in which they are required to interview students in an attempt to decrease gay population?
Now of course such a process is not likely to succeed, but something must be done before Morehouse College, an all-male Black institution, becomes something quite the opposite.
One may argue that Morehouse should allow its students to live as they please, but in these circumstances, one must begin to accept that this once black-and-white matter has become a rather gray, complicated issue.
It is true that some men of Morehouse have failed to honor and respect their gay brothers, yet the feelings and presence of heterosexual students should not be ignored. Is it fair for a straight male to come to an institution where he is forced to live in an environment that makes him feel uncomfortable? Because I’m quite sure that if he wanted to be surrounded by females, he would not have gone to an all-male institution.
I’m not saying that having gay students at this institution damages the image of Morehouse, but as the only all male African American liberal arts college in America, we have a certain image to uphold and a man with hair weave just isn’t it.
Gerren Gaynor
Associate Opinions Editor
Comments
With that, please note that not all gay men on Morehouse's campus act like this.. And that I'm sure you all would be surprised at the response of how many gay men on campus are offended when seeing this as well.
For 142 years, Morehouse has been a college for men- and only men. Sexuality does not determine your manhood.
By all means, I respect everyone, even if you are carrying a purse- but If you feel that is part of your expression, why bring it to an ALL MALE school... especially one that puts heavy emphasis on "entering as boys..leaving as men?"
So I leave with this question, If you're going to conduct yourself in that manner, why not just choose a school that's unisex?
THANK YOU !
Curtis Powell
"As a gay male at Morehouse-
who's open with my sexuality,
I agree with this article."
That's because you're a hater,
and a self-hater at that.
"I find it degrading and undeniably
a form of mockery to our campus
when seeing guys walk around with
"hair weaves" and "pocketbooks". "
That's because you're an idiot.
Some straight men wear hair extensions and some of them even carry bags with some of their possessions in them.
The fact that this is not as common in Atlanta as it is in Hollywood is not a reason for you to be flaunting your bigotry against people with whom you need to be in solidarity.
"By all means, I respect everyone,
even if you are carrying a purse-"
Oh, SHUT UP.
You are JUST LYING.
You CANNOT respect someone by saying that their merely doing what they are doing brings "mockery" or shame to you or your campus.
Live and let live.
Stop worrying about how what other people do is going to reflect on you.
Worry about how your own small-mindedness is going to leave your community divided and conquered.
FREE YOUR MIND.
I am extremely well-rounded and travel all through out the world- probably places you could never even fathom.. How about you attend Morehouse College for one semester and then write a response.
You're ignorrant.
Morehouse is a college. And college is a time for self-expression. We are all here to find ourselves and secure comfortable identities. We cannot place limitations on the expression of self, so long as it is legal and does no physical harm to anyone else.
Hypothetical Situation:
If Purse-Toting Larry has a 3.9 and a slew of nationally published articles, what is going to stop him from being successful? What is going to stop him from contributing the the overall success of Morehouse? It ain't that ponytail.
It is time for us all to step out of the past. There is a space for Queer identies. There are spaces for flambloyantly gay men in the workforce: fashion, journalism, PR...and anything else.
I am so sick and tired of this belief that one person's sexuality affects another's. What I wear, carry, or sew in my hair has nothing to do with your image. Morehouse is not a cult.
attack him personally. Address his argument. Otherwise stay quiet.
Indeed it was, but what makes it much sadder is that it was from a gay black man. People already dissing him for being non-manly enough to prefer a man to a woman. You would think he would've figured out, just from his own experience, that that's not reasonable.
Second of all, it is the job and the duty of all Morehouse students to get a good education. No gay student can make a straight man feel uncomfortable, in fact, there is really nothing that anyone else can do to make anyone else feel ANYTHING! Maybe straight Morehouse students should take responsibility for their own feelings and handle them accordingly.
These are the ones bringing down Morehouse's name not the fact that a few of the Morehouse population consider themselves lgbt.
Morehouse is a cult. A. Cult that breeds great men that move mountains and change worlds. If you want to live up to that charge, take out your weave put down your purses, just like any other hood would have to pull up his pants and take off his do rag, and grow tall enough to wear the crown that mother Morehouse places above each of her students head. If you can't live up to that, then you need to LEAVE QUICKLY! Because I only want great men standing next to me gay, straight, bi, or transgender.
But the author of that comment was talking about a person's societal differences, not his physical differences. He talked about how he did not like the un-professionalism of the "'extra' gay population" on a campus that is known for their PROFESSIONALISM . Not that he by any shape or form hated, disliked, or disagreed with a man's sexual preference which is a physical difference.
You sir, used an example that discussed how a white man discriminates against only dark skinned or light skinned. Dark skinned or light skinned are two physical traits. Not societal. See the difference in your comparison to the author. So your comparison would be invalid.
1. TRANSSEXUALS ARE NOT THE SAME AS HOMOSEXUALS. STOP THE IGNORANCE!
2. YOU SOUND LIKE THE WHITE MAN TALKING ABOUT NEGROS GOING TO ALL WHITE SCHOOLS. AGAIN, STOP THE IGNORANCE!
3. HOW LONG HAS HETROSEXUALITY BEEN FORCED ONTO GAY MAN? HETEROSEXUAL MEN NEED NOT COMPLAIN. THEY DONT HAVE TO PRETEND TO BE GAY TO GET AHEAD IN LIFE! AND U GOT NERVE TO SUGGEST HOMOSEXUALITY IS BEING FORCED UPON THESE HETEROSEXUAL MALES? VERY SILLY!
4. JUDGE PEOPLE ON THEIR ACADEMIC ABILITY, AND NOT THEIR SEXUALITY, WHICH MIGHT I ADD SHOULD NOT BOTHER A TRUE STRAIGHT MAN!
CLEARLY YOUR GOING TO SCHOOL FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS. PUT YA HEAD IN YA BOOK AND OUT THE BUSINESS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT WATCHING YOU!
AND I AM STILL WAITING TO SEE SOME VALID ARGUMENTS AS TO WHY HOMOSEXUAL MEN ON CAMPUS ARE DISTRACTING HETEROSEXUAL MEN!!!
CAN THEY NOT SLEEP AT NIGHT?
ARE THEY GETTING IN THE WAY OF THEIR ACADEMIC ADVANCEMENTS?
I WAIT!
If this not what you are saying, then you need to quicky rework your statement because the author, even through coming from a ignorant stand point, seems to show that the problem is not with the gay population but the flamboyant population. If we all are truly going to move on to a state of acceptance,we need to first come to this reality and move past this ignorance.
One of these students was profiled in the Transgeneration series on the Sundance Channel, which you can get via netflix. The show profiles students at various colleges/universities who are trans-identified. Might be worth watching...
What if a gay student doesn't like the heterosexual lifestyle being constantly thrown in their face? It's a two way street folks. Live and let live. It's amazing how blacks are discriminating aginst others now much in the same manner whites used to do against them. Haven't we learned anything as a society?
As for his opinions on gays they are just his. So those do not bother me. Like the young man said a man carrying a purse with a 3.9 GPA ill take any day over a thug with a 2.0.
I think it's time for some self-examination, and for conversations about queerness and gender that go beyond this tired drivel.
So, where is it written in stone that no heterosexual man on campus will ever be approached sexually by a homosexual man? If he is and he rebuffs it, will he be accused of homophobia or some twisted hate crime? A very real concern there.
Don't people have the right to feel uncomfortable without being branded hateful? I dont like being around people who smoke, but that in no way means I hate them. I have no love for their puffing, but other than that they are cool. Cant people have their own set of standards and beliefs without being forced to conform to something that goes against those beliefs? Even if you dont like it, then they still have the right to feel ---and express---discomfort in the presense of gay men. The false implication being voiced here is that homosexual students are inherently docile bookworms who have no sexual interest in a heterosexual man whatsoever. Yeah, sure. Right. That would make you asexual, not homosexual.
The writer is correct to raise the issues he did. It appears his basic premise has more to do with perserving the celebrated tradition of Morehouse than whether a man should have a feminine appearance. They are valid and could very well affect some parent's decision whether or not to send their son to an institution with a reputation they do not approve of. Morehouse has tradition, but there are options available. Why risk that unnecessarily?
Yes, there are students which have gender identity issues and yes they do have a right to look the way they want. But one person's rights should be tendered by a responsible consideration of the greater good. In this aspect the writer is correct to question just how far does Morehouse want to allow this to go without completely obliterating the "all male" distinction? In that case, Morehouse would lose its distinction which may well be argued is a particular draw for some students. That translates to lost dollars. And in quickly downward spiraling economy, that's a very valid concern.
that goes against those beliefs? Even if you dont like it, then they still have the right to feel ---and express---discomfort in the presense of gay men. The false implication being voiced here is that homosexual students are inherently docile bookworms who have no sexual interest in a heterosexual man whatsoever. Yeah, sure. Right. That would make you asexual, not homosexual.
The writer is correct to raise the issues he did. It appears his basic premise has more to do with perserving the celebrated tradition of Morehouse than whether a man should have a feminine appearance. They are valid and could very well affect some parent's decision whether or not to send their son to an institution with a reputation they do not approve of. Morehouse has tradition, but there are options available. Why risk that unnecessarily?
Yes, there are students which have gender identity issues and yes they do have a right to look the way they want. But one person's rights should be tendered by a responsible consideration of the greater good. In this aspect the writer is correct to question just how far does Morehouse want to allow this to go without completely obliterating the "all male" distinction? In that case, Morehouse would lose its distinction which may well be argued is a particular draw for some students. That translates to lost dollars. And in quickly downward spiraling economy, that's a very valid concern.
the way they want. But one person's rights should be tendered by a responsible consideration of the greater good. In this aspect the writer is correct to question just how far does Morehouse want to allow this to go without completely obliterating the "all male" distinction? In that case, Morehouse would lose its distinction which may well be argued is a particular draw for some students. That translates to lost dollars. And in quickly downward spiraling economy, that's a very valid concern.
Ms. Belinda White stated, "Corporate America loves Morehouse men because they are in addtion to being leaders, they are professional, they are ethical, and have a sesitivity to diversity..." One could argue that only a small percentage of students graduating from Morehouse may be "sensitive to diversity". And apparenly you shall not be one of them.
LMAO wow...ur just mad cause u can't be fierce in weave.
sashe chante
miss honey
*duck walk*
and dip...I think the world just ended
04
If someone's presence makes you uncomfortable, then a self-evaluation is in order. You can not control your environment or feel the right to have your environment controlled to fit your values.
Embrace the differences in our people. It's these differences that have cultivated and progressed our culture and advances.
Morehouse will be seen as a credible college if it takes the tone of embracing diversity - not creating limits of growth to its student population's experiences.
To address the issue, this article really saddens me more than anything. I find it difficult to believe that after the years of progress on LGBT issues I witnessed first-hand while attending Morehouse, that such an unsavory article would appear in the MT. Realize, some effeminate men are that way by nature. He's blatantly asking people to change who they are, even though he says different. As I understand it, there is a transgender student there now. I think this article could be an attack on her. As this is the first time I've seen anything like this in the MT. I hope this can become a chance for the entire Morehouse community to learn something; at least how to live amongst and respect each other.
The author of this article makes some sweeping assumptions. First, he starts out assuming that the friction between gay and heterosexual students at Morehouse is universally felt. Not so. When I went to Morehouse, sure I encountered the occasional homophobe, but most of the heterosexual black men that I knew could care less about someone's homosexuality. They were more concerned with the fact that outside jealous institutions were trying to unfairly stereotype all Men of Morehouse as gay. This is largely because Morehouse has cultivated such a widely respected and acknowledged masculine image of strong black men.
Most of the homophobia I witnessed came largely from the native African and Caribbean students. A lot of it came from students bred in Deep Southern states like Mississippi and Alabama. Even then there were notable exceptions to this rule. You can't place people in a box and expect that they'll all fit the same way.
What I dislike most about the author's article is his stereotyped view of seeing gay men as acting like women. For the most part, few gay men are effeminate in this way or at least in not a way that is extremely noticeable. Those that stand out are those that can't really help themselves. But, in knowing that they only make up just a few of gay men, why do you let this bother you so much? Is it not the real truth that you are so insecure in your masculinity that seeing other young men's way of defining it somehow threatens yours? If so, then I would have to say that I expected much more of a Man of Morehouse. The definition of masculinity that you seek is on par with those who beat their wives. It is no real man, but a small, scared little boy buried behind the veil of cultural machismo and the panicked brouhaha of those who are reading your article.
Class of 1999 Alumnus
It is not okay to fringe upon anyone's rights, gay or not, but what Morehouse has failed to do is reinforce the ideal of the strong black family! Where we once taught our Morehouse Men how to communicate and court our young black women with respect and admiration, we now assume this value is inherent in our young men, when obviously it isn't even a priority in many of their minds. This speaks directly against the ideal of improving the disparaging condition of black families in America.
Stop chastising this young man for his opinion, it does have validity. We can pretend that the only challenge we face in understanding the social affect this new cultural phenomenon presents is simply ignorance on the part of those that fail to fully accept homosexuality as a social norm, but it goes way beyond that. Folks have been gay just as long as they have been straight, it's nothing new. What is new is the publics' exposure to alternative lifestyles on a daily basis, through personal interaction and in the media. People are obviously more openly gay. Right or wrong, open, non-threatening conversations are a must!
’99 Alum
The Harvey Milk school is an example of an all-GLBT school. We need schools like that. But what we don't need are for mainstream schools to discriminate against gays, or blacks.
So some might argue that if it's OK for an all-black school to exclude whites, then it should be OK for them to exclude gays also. But that's not OK. An all-black school discriminating against gays is like an all-white school discriminating against blacks.
I really had a lot of problems with this article. I saw a lot of veiled homophobia and just plain ignorance posing as "great conversation." I felt the need to comment on the above issue, but there really was so much more I could have commented on.
(Wow, people have the nerve to say the author of this ignorant article wasn't bashing anyone?)
NEWSFLASH!!! It's not the purses and hair weaves these heterosexual students have a problem with. Whether the author knows it or lol... its the FUNDAMENTAL aspect that makes someone homosexual that has these heterosexual students up-in-arms. PERIOD. The outward expression of it by their more extroverted homosexual counterparts just reminds them of these prejudices. Learn what a "Social Construct" is before writing an article about what "traits" males SHOULD be expressing.
http://authortree.com/tijuan
For one thing, in the same way that there is classism in the African-American Community, where some of a certain class, or shade of complexion look down on the other, those of us in our community who look down on our gay, transgender and lesbian community are doing no less.
Let's look at the facts: in which community is there more of a prevalence of hate, criticism and lack of acceptance? Ours! Which community has the highest incidence of the so-called Down Low phenomena? Ours! Which community has among the highest rates of HIV and AIDS infection? Ours!
We certainly have more pressing issues to deal with, than some young man's inherent homophobia and unwillingness to move out of the stone age.
How dare you speak about these young men or transgender folks "bringing down the good name" of Morehouse? Is this the same Morehouse where a young man was brutally attacked because the attacker felt he was being looked at in the shower? Give me a break!
Hate is learned behavior, and hate towards your own people is equally reprehensible. I am not effeminate, nor identify in the manner that is alluded to in the article, but, as many have suggested, people are free to express themselves in any way they see fit. This country is called "the land of the free," not the land of the heterosexual.
We have made great strides in this country, with the election of our First African-American President. We are breaking down barriers left and right, and we still cannot accept our own people for all their faults and achievements alike. What is wrong with this picture?
How patronizing of you to suggest that if a guy wants to date men, 'be your guest.' What makes you so superior now that you are giving permission for people to live their lives? Who is giving you permission to live yours?
It is way overdue for us, as Americans, and African-Americans, to embrace each other to rebuild our country. We have a lot of work to do. There are millions of people out of work, many of them African-Americans. There are thousands of young African-American men and women who are in jail or prison, instead of the classroom or at work, because their lives may not have had a sense of direction, or they made the wrong choices. What choice are you prepared to make in 2009 for the betterment of not just African-Americans, but America as a whole?
I thought that Morehouse was a place of citizenship and as someone suggested, a place where boys grown into men. If that's the case, you, sir, seem to be missing the mark. If you are there to learn, then do so, and graduate and make your impact on the world. But, in a time when all of our equality is at stake, never take on the mantle of hate against your own. Be very careful what you wish for.
There was a time not so long ago when interracial dating and marriage was an offence punishable by death, and not necessarily state of federally sanctioned, but allowed. Think about that, and how we, as a people are working against our own. Think of millions of children in foster care, waiting to find good homes and loving parents but won't get that, because some states have banned adoptions *not just* by gay parents, but all unwed parents. Who is being hurt by this? How many children do you know who were raised by gay parents and have gone on to lead well adjusted and productive lives? Think on these things the next time you go on a tirade about gay men making heterosexual men uncomfortable.
I close with this: in a time when sources of funding for education are drying up, the last thing you want to do, is to denigrate a whole class of individuals at the school that you're professing love for. In light of its already tarnished history, and worldwide known homophobia "problem," the last thing I think you and the administrators of your "fine" institution want, is for your funding to dry up. Federal and individual funds and endowments can go away quicker than you think. So you may want us to design your clothes, do your wives and girlfriends' hair and all the stereotypical things that gay men do, but not attend your school? Sure, you can have that, but I hope you are prepared for the consequences. It may just require you to think again.
Grow up and accept people for who they are,
AJ
If my career was to be dependent upon this one article (of opinion at that) and not my skills as a "journalist" than I don't need them to hire me.
And I'm being criticized for being bias? If personal views is the basis of hiring someone then you can keep it.
Quite honestly I don't think there is any journalist, writer or editor that hasn't written something that has angered others. Maybe YOU sir are the one who needs a little growth...
You would benefit from reading the following articles:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/16/magazine/16students-t.html?ref=magazine
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE0D61E3FF930A3575BC0A9659C8B63
The editorial should be about intolerance and ignorance at HBCU's.
What did he stand for? Please tell me...what did his wife stand for? Please tell me... THEY BOTH STOOD FOR HUMAN EQUAL RIGHTS. If you graduate from Morehouse...you are going to be in for a rude awaken. Gay people ARE HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE. You need to grow up and be concerned about your own business. Oh, by the way..there are lesiban at Spelman and more gay folks over at Clark Atlanta.
Homosexuality is in COMPLETE violation of the Bible and I will NEVER accept the lifestyle as normal, because IT IS NOT. Feel free to pay your tuition to another institution that is more accepting, as I am sure MLK would turn in his grave if he saw the number of outwardly gay men on the campus of his place of higher learning.
After reading the article I have to say that I agree,primarily because of the Morehouse Mystique. As others have already stated Morehouse house is a place for young man to develop and mature. As for homosexual male students, I find it great that they have chosen Morehouse as thier place to grow and learn, but when one begins to infringe on the image and standing of one of the most prestigious HBCU's. Then yes I do concur that it is necessary for such an article to the voice of reason. Personally I have not seen any Morehouse students carrying purses or wearing weaves, but since this is evident then I suggest more communication. If some students are feeling discomfort then I belive it necessary for some brother to brother commmunication. Get more invloved, have dorm meetings, whatever you all find suitable since this has already caused much debate. I am no expect nor am I writing this to judge but I do believe that there is something to be done if this is causing discomfort to others. Humility and collaboration is a start. Lastly I like to add that I love all my Morehouse Brothers and hope solutions surface soon. Peace be to you all!
I tell ya what bugs me is straight acting normal looking hetro walking gay males....how boreing...how dull....I like flavor, personality, flair....
I love the feminane acting and walking and talking gay males...they make me feel young, their more honest...and their fun to be around....
Feminane guys have so much more flair...it's like you get the best part of the man and the fun parts of the woman....
Homophopic males are a bore to be around...their so insecure....so shallow....
Most gay or bi males know what it's like to be persecuted...and so usually have more depth to their character....right or wrong...their just more fun to be around...
It's interesting to say the least...my photos will speak for me...
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