Students get the 'straight' answers

The 'Straight Answers to Gay Questions' program, sponsored by the Wellness Lecture Series and Morris Recreation Center, made taboo questions into public conversation on Feb. 1, as hosts and sex educators Marshall Miller and Kaelyn Rich explain aspects of the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning) culture.

The purpose of the event was to answers questions about the LGBTQ community and to explain common terms like transgender, as well as talk about the general assumptions and stereotypes heterosexual people have about community.

"People have friends and family members that are bisexual, gay or lesbian," Rich said. "So we are here to answers question and to talk about being LGBTQ."

Miller and Rich are both bisexual sex educators and giving college conferences all over the country.

"We do about 50 to 60 programs around the country each year," Miller said. "We (as sex educators) do programs not just involving LGBTQ topics but many others."

The program started out with a brief overview of terms and videos involving aspects of life for the LGBTQ community, which was then followed by the question and answer portion of the program which was a favorite for many, including sophomore theatre major and president of ANGLES Joshua Simmons.

"The question and answer portion was definitely my favorite part of the program," Simmons said. "It was a really good step and gave people a chance to communicate directly with each other about questions they have."

According to Simmons, the program was a great start to a growing support group in the area.

"This program was definitely a good step," Simmons said. " It was the first event I have attended like this at the university and I look forward to many more."

While Rich and Miller encouraged individuals within the LGBTQ community to be open about their orientation, Professor of Literature Languages and one of the founders of the Texas A&M University-Commerce Safe Spaces program Robin Reid disagreed with the idea.

"I know of three students who had internships and scholarships and were kicked out of the program after the school found out that they were [homosexuals] in Sulfur Springs and Greenville" Reid said.

Heterosexual students who attended the event were pleased to be in an atmosphere that supported such a different culture, and used the event as a learning experience.

"It was good to be in an environment where there were a lot of LBGT people and they were comfortable about it," freshman Jersan Kannedy said. "In high school you can't see that."

Many LBGTQ individuals were also proud of the event's turnout, including senior Nick Albritton. He hopes that this is a sign of a more accepting campus community.

"I love how open the event was and we had people from all different backgrounds show up," Albritton said. "Hopefully if we do it again the response will be even better and people will feel safe to come out."

Although the topic can be controversial, Miller said that he has never dealt with an attendee who wasn't there to learn.

"We have even had people attend who are confused and curious about the topic," Miller said. " We once had a minister who attended and was struggling with some of the ideas in the presentation but it turned out to a great opportunity to learn."