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University Daily Kansan / Friday, May 1, 1992
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Summer Is Almost Here?
Make Sure You're Ready!
FREE Aerobics Class - Call NOW for an appointment NEWLY REMODELED & ADDED EQUIPMENT
from now until the end of school $139.00 OFF $21.00/month
- Over 60 aerobic classes/wk
- Step aerobics offered
- 2 aerobic rooms
- Co-ed classes offered
- 10 tans for $20
- Nautilus & free weights
BODY BOUTIQUE
The Women's Fitness Facility
749-2424
9th & Iowa • Hillcrest Plaza
2515 W. 6th St.
BECERROS
841-1323
Specials
Sunday
$1 Margaritas
$2.99 Dinner
Specials
Monday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Margaritas 75¢ Draws $1 Margaritas $1.50 Imports $2.50 Pitchers Dinner $7.99 16 oz. $6.99 Fajitas 1/2 off All $4.95 Enchilada Specials T - Bone Appetizers w/ entree Dinners
Free Appetizer Bar M-F 4-7 pm Come In For Our Daily Lunch Specials! Hours: Sun. 12-12 M-F 11-12 Sat. 12-12 Party On Our Patio!
COMMENCEMENT BREAKFAST
FOR GRADUATES AND THEIR FAMILIES
SUNDAY, MAY 17
KANSAS UNION BALLROOM
8 A.M. BREAKFAST
8:30 A.M. PROGRAM
THE CHANCELLOR'S STUDENT AWARDS AND THE CLASS GIFT AND BANNER WILL BE PRESENTED DURING THE PROGRAM.
FOR TICKETS, RETURN THE CARD FROM YOUR COMMENCEMENT PACKET.
CONTACT THE ALUMUNI ASSOCIATION,
864-4760, IF YOU'VE LOST YOUR CARD.
LIMIT 4 TICKETS PER STUDENT.
THE COMMISSION BREAKFAST IS SPONSORED BY THE KANSAS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, THE STUDENT ALUMNI ANSORSIATION AND THE 1992 BOARD OF CLASS OFFICERS.
Some gay fraternity men fear coming out of closet
Kansan staff report
For three years, Eric laughed at his fraternity brothers "bfg" jokes.
In the next week, he plans to tell them he is gay. He does not expect them to laugh.
Eric, who asked that his real name not be used, said he was one of many gay KU fraternity men who is keeping his sexuality a secret from his chap-
Eric said that at least two other members of his fraternity were gay, and that he knew of gay members in eight other KU fraternities, as well as gay men who were recent graduates of the fraternity system.
"Those are just the ones brave enough to venture out to a (gay) bar," he said. "Any fraternity member is naive to think there aren't any gays in his house."
But gay men in KU fraternities seldom tell their chapters about their sexuality for fear of alienation, loss of reputation or worse.
Mike Sullivan, former co-director of Gay and Lesbian Services of Kansas, said, "I tell all my gay and straight friends in fraternities, especially the straight ones, that if they went to a gay bar in Kansas City, they'd be surprised at all the people they knew.
Troy Aldafer, co-director of GLOSK, said national surveys estimate that 10 percent to 15 percent of the population is homosexual or bisexual, and that he assumed the figure is the same for Greek houses.
"Homosexuality has no bound-aries." he said.
Eric, who will graduate this month, said his plans to out himself and speak to the entire chapter about his sexual orientation are tentative. He said he had frequently resolved to do it in the past. He said that he would like to be honest with everyone.
"It wouldn't be the constant wondering: 'Does he know? Would he care if he knew?'" Eric said.
He said that some fraternity brothers would want him kicked out of the
chapter, but that others would support him completely.
Eric is relatively confident he would not be expelled from the fraternity because he will graduate this semester, he said. The chapter also elected him to four positions in the house and once gave him the highest award possible in a chapter vote.
Brad is another gay member of Eric's fraternity who has not told the chapter about his sexuality. He, too, asked that his real name not be used.
Eric said that the three men were once the only housemembersaware of each other's sexual orientation but that now about 11 members of the house knew and accepted them.
Brad said many others would not accent them.
"If you're in a fraternity, you're not going to be open, for God's sake, unless you want to be beat up or kicked out," he said.
Brad said he didn't think he would be kicked out.
"I might sound arrogant, but everybody in my fraternity really likes me a lot," he said. "Some might be pissed off that I've fooled them all this time, which they have a right to be. Others might be pissed off that I'm gay, which they really don't have a right to be.
"I certainly haven't disgraced my fraternity atall."
"I personally feel that homophobia is not something that is just one faction of the University," he said. "It's not exclusive to fraternities."
John Gaffney, Interfraternity Council adviser, said men's living groups tended to be homophobic.
Art Satterfield, graduate teaching assistant in psychology and a member of GLSOK for three years, said an almite living group had the potential to be extremely homophobic, partly because of the myth that gay men were hypersexual and wanted to have sex with any healthy male.
Satterfield said he had heard about beatings of gay men by members of
their fraternities nationwide.
Eric, who said he joined the fraternity for the social and leadership opportunities it offered, had planned to keep his sexuality a secret throughout college when he joined his fraternity.
Eric said even the members of his chapter who would accept him might be concerned about the reputation of the fraternity.
Margaret Miller, KU's coordinator of greek programs, said she knew of many gay fraternity men and had been working with members of the gay community to set up a support group for them.
"I knew I was gay when I joined," Eric said. "I remember that I asked myself if it was important enough for me to join a fraternity that I would keep myself cloested for the next four years."
"I know a lot of houses are afraid of being called 'a fag house,'" Eric said.
He also said he worried that recruitment at his fraternity might suffer if it got a negative reputation or that the University might punish the chapter if it excelled him because he was gay.
However, $ 2^{1/2} $ years ago he slowly began coming out, and he had his first homosexual experience at age 20.
Eric said that before his first experience he believed some of the stereotypes about gay men.
"I thought I was the only normal-looking (gay)," Eric said. "I didn't want to wear leather. I didn't want to wear women's clothing."
"The feelings started taking over," he said. "It was something I couldn't deny anymore."
Brad said he did not fit into any gay stereotypes either.
"I'm by no means effeminate, and I'm by no means eccentric," he said.
"Fraternities have always had gay people in them," he said. "Fraternities always will have gay people in them."
Most of his fraternity brothers do not expect he is gay at all, Brad said.
The University of Kansas School of Education
will honor its graduating students at a Convocation
at seven o'clock in the evening Saturday, May 16, 1992
Crafton-Preyer Theatre Murphy Hall
Graduates who completed their degrees in October and December 1991 and candidates for degrees in May and August 1992 will be recognized. Academic regalia will be worn. Participating graduates are asked to arrive at 6:40 p.m. For further information, contact the School of Education, 117 Bailey Hall, 864-3726.