August 22,1984
CAMPUS
The University Daily KANSAN
Gays at KU find both tolerance and harassment
We try to show new members that we're like everybody else. Most of them grew up hearing that queers rape children and all lesbians are butch-bowl dykes. We show them that we're average people like everyone else. We just happen to love the same sex instead of the opposite sex.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The gay community at the University of Kansas, and at other campuses across the United States, is becoming increasingly visible. As more homosexuals openly step into the "straight" world, conflicts arise. The debate on this emotional issue is becoming more heated. The Kansan takes a look at the gay community in this area, in an attempt to identify differing opinions.
One of them idly pulled petals off a flower skirt swaying, as she listened to her friend. Then she laughed and touched her company ion's arm, as if for support.
By MICHELE HINGER Staff Reporter
Late one summer evening a couple strolled along the sidewalk surrounding Potter Lake, talking quietly and enjoying the sunset.
Her friend responded by reaching out to smooth her hair and laid her head on her shoulder.
- Ruth Lichtwardt, GLSOK president
Changing atmosphere
Facing both political and religious criticism, they have persisted in leading homosexual lifestyles, knocking down some social and legal barriers.
Although Kansas may be considered conservative; gays and lesbians do live in it.
The atmosphere for gay men and lesbian women has changed during the past decade. Although acceptance may not have increased, awareness has been heightened by the acknowledgement of homosexual lifestyles in society today.
The two women pulled away from each other slowly and continued down their path.
And San Francisco doesn't have a monopoly on the gay community.
But the going has not been easy for most homosexuals. A gay person in any community has to consider what he's up against. He's a homosexual, whether publicly or privately.
The problem unfolds as the gay person considers the anti-homosexual sentiment that exists and realizes that his job, his living situation and his personal safety may be on the line.
Progress in gay rights is coming slowly. Dennis Duisley, professor of social welfare.
"The culture in which we live is still repressive and mean-minded," he said, "so that although there may not be legal infringements, there are infringements on
Slow progress
The gay rights movement was at its peak in the middle to late 1970s, Dailey said, which "probably was a spill-off from the concern of the war."
"There was generally more tolerance, openness, willingness to respond then. In the last four years, partly from the political and social context, less tolerance and more anti-homosexuals."
"Homophobia" is the word Dailay used to describe the extreme fear and rage some people have towards a woman.
These people justify their anti-gay sentiment, by saying that homosexuals are men and women.
"Most of these theories don't hold water, though," he said. "and have little scientific benefit."
Religious reasons for anti-gay sentiment are based on interpretations of the Bible, said Jimmy Cobb, pastor of the First Southern Baptist Church in Lawrence.
"I cannot speak for all Baptists
churches,” he said, “but personally I feel that the practice of homosexuality goes against what God intends. It goes against what is taught in the Scripture.”
Finding comfortable places
Socializing and finding places to meet friends with tolerance for different lifestyles are hard for rays, but options are opening up.
The dances sponsored by Gay and Lesbian Services of Kansas, a KU organization, are well-known for attracting a lot of people with varying sexual preferences.
Lawrence has no exclusively gay bars, but there are a few places in town where gays feel comfortable, said Ruth Lichtwardt, GLSOK president.
In Kansas City, gays often congregate at Liberty Memorial Park, she said, or go to one of the gay bars and restaurants in the city.
Some of the living options for KU students are more comfortable than others for gays.
"Fraternities and sororites are the worst places for gays to live because the peer pressure is much too strong against it for them to be comfortable," she said. "When you go out, your peers want you very close. I think that's why there's such an adverse reaction to homosexuality there."
because they're living in such close quarters."
"
Residence halls are a better choice for guys she said
"I lived in McColm for two years," Lichtwardt said, "and I didn't have too much problem. Sometimes the RA's would refer to me, but I did I receive the occasional nasty note."
Jane (not her real name) lived in Lewis Hall last year. Jane said that when her roommate found out she was gay, she moved out of the room and into another residence
"There were probably six lesbians on our floor, but we weren't real blatant about it," she said.
Before the year ended, Jane was put on hall
probation because of an incident report
to the District Court.
"Some freshmen had some problems with our being gay and filed incident reports naming five of us, saying we had participated in an orgy in the bathroom with five other unnamed people. Only three of the five they accused were even lesbians.
"We were able to defend ourselves with alibis, but three of us were still put on probation and two got warnings. It was like we had been told that the robber had to pay for the people we've chosen to be."
The incident was neither confirmed nor denied by a Lewis Hall official, who asked to remain unnamed.
"That was not a resolved issue and we never found out for certain whose side was true." she said.
"One of the three worst queer bashers this summer happened July 3," said R.A. Montague, a GLSOK member. "I think some guys who were harassing gays by the Campanile were arrested for illegal possession of dangerous weapons."
Although Montague praised the KU Police Department for protecting homosexual as well as heterosexual students, KU police could not comment on how many such outbreaks of violence they respond to, because distinguishing between attacks on
Violence and harassment
The conflicts don't end with incident reports. In some cases, hostility between homosexuals and heterosexuals ends in verbal and physical abuse. Violence and harassment toward homosexuals is a national trend, according to the National Gay Task Force.
Gays are victims of anti-gay harassment in campus, sometimes suffering physical abuse.
Another problem with the documentation of violence involving gays is that most gays are hesitant to make police reports, fearing that the reports might have on their own safety.
heterosexuals and those on homosexuals would be a form of discrimination.
"When you go forward in court," Montague said, "there's your name and address on public record, then the guys on the streets can come after you."
The report was based on the experiences of 2,100 gays and lesbians who volunteered to take part in the survey in eight cities, said the University project coordinator for the Task Force.
The results of the survey showed that more than 90 percent of the volunteers experienced some kind of harassment because of their homosexuality.
However, the National Gay Task Force has recently completed a survey on harassment
"More than one in five males and one in 10 females were punched, hit, kicked or beaten because of being gay." Berrill said, "and approximately the same number suffered from some kind of police abuse, either verbal, physical or threatening.
See GAY, p. 13, col. 1
Members of Gay and Lesbian Students of Kansas and friends of David Robert Merritt of a self-inflicted gunshot wound July 9. Merritt, a sophomore from Chanute, was gather for a candlelight memorial service at the Campanile to honor Merritt, who died enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences last spring.
Larry Weaver/KANSAN
Married students look to end of rainbow
By SUSIE FALL Staff Reporter
The vow "I do" can mean many sacrifices for the married student, but if a couple wants to make the marriage work, they can if they are willing to give a little, according to one University of Kansas employee.
"Somebody has to break down and decide to make the marriage work," said Layne Pierce, Research and Graduate Studies employee. He is also married and the father of two children. Pierce's wife is working on her母孩子 in Slavic Languages at KU
Another student agreed that KU did not help married students trying to get through college.
"Over the years, the number of married students at KU has increased, but support has not."
"This University has little sympathy for poor students, especially poor, married students," said David Tepoorten, a married student of business and history.
student Pierce was involved in the Stouffer Neighborhood Association, which represents married and non-traditional students to the KU administration and housing offices. Non-administrational students are generally older and consequently have greater responsibilities such as a spouse, family and
Sara Martin, assistant director of the Student Assistance Center, said that some married students felt that many campus programs and social activities were geared toward single students.
Stouffer Place is the University-financed housing for married and non-traditional students, west of the Frank R. Burge Union and Oliver Hall.
"I wouldn't say these opinions are complaints," she said. "When they get married they have to expect their social lives to be different."
Different needs
Only a small percentage of the students seeking help from the University Counseling Center are couples, center director Richard Rundquist said.
Usually, both husband and wife work to stay ahead financially, Teporten said, and holding two jobs leaves less time for the couple to spend together.
"They seem to be working things out on their own," he said.
It is hard to make a conscious decision to
spend less time with your spouse, said Danni Teoperton, David's wife. But most couples agree it is harder to live below the poverty level.
The light at the end of the tunnel for many couples, is the realization that when they have completed their educations, life will be much easier.
The university employee who was married as a graduate student, used a "pot of gold at the end of the rainbow" analogy to describe the problems of students student life.
Getting an education is in the rainbow. He said, and college was something that must be built up.
David Teporten takes a more optimistic view of his financial difficulties "it's kinda cool," he said.
It's not uncommon, Danni Teporten said, to go out and spend their last nickel on ice.
"We know it won't be like that when we graduate, so this is going to be something to look forward to."
Hectic schedules
The heavy time demands of college life require many couples to work out their
schedules to a science, Martin said. For couples with children, one student might be in class or at work in the morning while the other is studying in the children, and then switch off for the afternoon.
Couples have mixed emotions about their hectic schedules. Pierce, for example, regrets that he has little time to spend with his family.
"It is very difficult to find time for her, myself and studies." he said.
Job searches
David Teoporton, on the other hand, said that because he didn't see his wife as often as he would if they weren't in school, it was "more refreshing" when they could spend time together. He said that he didn't think she put any additional stress on their marriage.
"The University itself is stressful, for all students," he said. "It is not a given that married students in school will have students, but many may have to accommodate."
Many students see the future as a reward that is distant but worth the wait. David Teoporen said that he and Daniw would graduate in 1867, and that they planned to
continue their two-job, student lifestyle until then.
Upon graduation, married students face the problem of looking for jobs. They no longer worry about where they should study or whose turn it is to cook dinner. The more important decision is where to go from college.
Fred Madaus, placement director for the School of Business, said that couples could take two approaches after college. They can find to jobs together or they can split up.
"Usually the man and woman are career-minded and mature enough to come to an understanding," he said.
To stay together after graduation, respect will play a large part in the Teoportens' lives. David Teoporten said.
"We both knew what the other wanted out of life before we got married," Danni Teopoerten said.
Pierce said that a person could not always demand to get their own way.
The decision to marry and continue to pursue an education carries a lot of pressure.
"It is hard." Pierce said, "but we're achieving it."
6