February 20, 1984
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Hj."l ' » ■■Him / Jam— Mddtoon Unlvrelty Monday, February 20,1984 Vol.61 No.se A style of living Male homosexual adjusts at JMU •First in a series By Charles Taylor features editor He met him at a party. A Tew curious glances, an understanding nod, then casual, separate trails to the apartment's balcony. "He said to me, 'I think you're really attractive and I want to take you to bed.' I was pretty ner- vous. All the heat went from my hands and my feet. I didn't know how to react." The reaction he chose marked a beginning — for this man, an initiation into the world of homosex- uality. A year and a half later, Brian (not his real name) maintains an active gay lifestyle among his estimate of 1,500 homosexual males at JMU. The Kimsey reports found in 1948 that 10 percent of white Americans were homosexual. More recent studies place the estimate at one in seven. On cam- pus, that statistic would place the Figure much lower than Brian's — at about 640. While cautious, he is not intimidated by the common views held by much of society. Still, his life has been marked with fear, loneliness and con- fusion — especially in the days following his first encounter. "I couldn't tell a soul," he says. "It was eating me up inside. It's a horrible feeling I can't even begin to describe. What if somebody Finds out? That was the hardest part to deal with because I'd already seen a change in me." Still he knew his initial experience was not based on a careless, spontaneous whim. Brian thinks it evolved from forces within his family and early school years. "I kind of was a sheltered child," he says. "My father didn't make us pursue sports in any way and we were allowed to grow up any way we wanted to. My father left the family situation when 1 was 4-and-a-half years old, so I had my mother and sister as basically role models. I admit I picked up a lot of effeminate gestures and actions." This didn't set well with classmates. By the eighth grade, Brian would walk down the hall to FaClllty faShiOfl —■ Dr. Lillian Jennings, assistant dean of the School snickers and chants of "faggot, fairy, homo, of Education, stepped from behind the desk onto the stage Saturday night in the queer. I tried to ignore it," he says, "and then one Warren Campus Center Ballroom. She was a model In a student and faculty day it Finally got on my nerves and I pounded the fashion show sponsored by JMU's Office of Minority Affairs. shit out of someone. And they left me alone." He also had a girlfriend at this time. "We cared (Photo by Yo Nagaya) See MALE page 2 ► SBV6n The basketball team had a Cats The Stray Cats played to a record seven dunks In Godwin Hall audience of 2,100 slams Saturdays win over GMU. Page 11 concert Thursday night Page 8 ■^ Pageage 2, The Breeze, Monday, February 20,1984 The Lion Student Annette Fama plays Eleanor in Friday's rehearsal of William Shakespeare's "The Lion in Winter." The play will be per- formed at Latimer-Shaeffer Theatre in Duke Fine Arts Center Tuesday through Sun- day. (Photo by Yo Nagaya) i tearing over to his place. I would go Brian's gay friends have also ly is a prominent concern. Male out with him and not come back un- helped him in other ways. "You feel "I know my mother would have a til the next morning, which is kind of •► (Continued from page 1) very isolated until you find another coronary. I think she knows I've had rare for a guy 20 years old." person or group that feels the same some gay encounters, but there's about each other and did all the nor- Brian's mind is made up now. His way you do. Then it feels OK always a difference between suspec- mal things 1 guess normal couples do lifestyle is clearly defined. To because you see people who basically ting and really knowing," he says. at 13. No sexual experimentation, anyone who asks out of genuine in- have the same feelings you have. just more or less emotional." terest, he admits he is homosexual. That's kind of nice, because there's For his future, Brian wants Brian says he had no inkling of the But to reach that point, it took safety in numbers." more experimentation — such as gay a family. "I absolutely adore homosexual tendencies that would On campus, Brian estimates that children and sometime down the line later emerge. Even after the first en- bars. between 100 and 150 out of 1,500 counter, he wasn't sure if he was "When I went to my very first gay would like to marry a girl, settle homosexuals live an open gay down and have children. I consider gay. "So big deal, it happens. It's bar," he says, "I was so worried I lifestyle; they date men and admit myself a bisexual whether people say not going to change your entire life was going to get picked up that I their homosexuality when asked. unless you want it to." couldn't think about anything else. they exist or not." But Brian says he The others he calls "closet cases," now prefers men. But he faced a decision he knew Now I've gone into gay bars where I those who are not yet ready to admit could change every aspect of his life. walk in and it's like heads turn." If a suitable woman does not come their homosexuality to society. along, he has considered the adop- He continued experimenting with his These days, he still frequents gay In identifying open gays, he talks feelings and new lifestyle, seeing the bars in the D.C. area with gay tion of a child as a single parent. "I of a "sixth sense" they share. "It's feel that I can be as good a father as man frequently. And amidst his own friends from JMU. "Socially, the more or less a feeling," he says. uncertainty, there was confusion on bars are a blast. I can't begin to any straight male, and in ways, an "Picking up on certain mannerisms, even better father. Not only can I the home front. describe how fun they are because expressions and patterns of speech! "My mother began to question you're not inhibited. You're allowed Some styles of clothing give it away; give it the strength and will to go on, why we were spending so much time to let go and if you see a cute guy what used to be a big part of gay I can give it tenderness and love that some fathers find it difficult to show together. Why, whenever he called, I walking down the corridor, you say, fashion were bandanas, either tied would go racing out of the house and 'Hey, come on. Let's dance.' " their children, especially if it's a around the neck or thigh, or draped male child." in the right or left pocket. Now, Meanwhile, Brian has life at JMU nobody cares. Most guys see that it's to deal with — a task he says gay all right to dress in way-out clothes that used to be labeled as gay students often find difficult. eze fashion. "It disgusts me when supposedly grown up people act like they do," Editor lanKati "Haircuts used to be really short cut over the ears and long in the he says. "You have no idea what it's Managing editor Deniel Fmnegan Buaineaa manager back. Now, virtually every male on like to go around and have people News editor Tammy (carton Aaaiatant buaineaa manager Marlon McQuleten this campus has his hair cut that talk behind your back, to cut you Aaalaiant rwwi editor Ads deaign manager Theresa Welling down just because you want to live Features •dltor Charlee Taylor way. Assistant features •dltor Conatanca Wetter "I can't really explain it. You iust your life the way you want to, Sport* •dltor MmLookard because you don't fit a certain mold Aaaiatant sporti •dltor kind of know," he says. Aasfatant sports editor ■cottToeey Trie Breeze la published Monday and Thurs- that they think you should live. Editorial •dltor Roes Richardson day mornings and distributed throughout JMU Despite stereotypes, heterosexuals ,e are Aaaiatant adltorlal aditor CayFuKi Mailing addreaa la Tha Bruit Anthony- cannot always determine who is 6r "More and more gay pe°P Aaaiatant adltorlal aditor Se*g«r Hall. JMU. Harrleonburg. VA 22807. coming out of the closet and it's Photo editor YoNegays For advertising call 433-6596 For editorial ol isn't gay. This is fortunate, Brian ad- wire aditor OairidTraub llces, call 433-6127 mits, since there are situations in something this world has got to live Production manager Mast Mart Comments and complaint! should be with. That's what college is suppos- Editorial aaaiatant JaneChacca directed to Ian Katz. editor which confirmation of a gay lifestyle would prove disastrous. In his case ed to be all about — growing and Advisers 'earning. Get to know the person. FUpDeLuca the inconvenience and turmoil of hiding homosexuality from his fami- not the sexual preference. It doesn't matter." The Breeze, Monday, February 20, 1984, page 3 Senators study drinking age Proposal faces 'uphill battle' The SGA Legislative Action Com- But he admits there are excep- going to be as rigorous on enforcing By Donna Sawyers mittee is lobbying against the bill.