8A
Wednesday, March 12, 1997
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Coming Out OF THE DARK
BY: AMY RUSH
I
Julie had been rehearsing the conversation for days. She walked into the principal's office at the elementary school where she works, sat down and took a deep breath.
"There is something I need to tell you. I am a professional, and I know that you are professional enough to handle this information," she said to the principal.
She didn't want her last name used because she is afraid of the backlash that may come from children's parents if they find out about her sexual orientation.
Julie, who asked that her last name be withheld, proceeded to tell the principal that she was a lesbian.
Many heterosexuals may take it for granted that they can talk about their sexuality in the workplace. However, many gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people may face uncertain outcomes when they decide to talk about their sexual orientation.
Julie told her principal about her sexual orientation so that there wouldn't be a surprise if anything should ever happen at school, like a parent having a problem with her.
On National Coming Out Day, Hampton decided to write her boss a letter, to tell i am about her sexual orientation and about a co-worker who had told offensive, homophobic jokes.
Chris Hampton, Lawrence graduate student and office manager of
Upward Bound, said that she chose to come out at work after being involved with the LesBiGay Services of Kansas, which is now called Queers and Allies.
"I was tired of tiptoeing around the issue here." Hampton said.
However, some people decide not to come out of the closet because of their environment.
Mary, who also asked that her last name be withheld, is a KU law student and works as a clerk at a law firm.
National Coming Out Day is set aside for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people to come out to those around them.
"I'm afraid," Mary said. "In the law school, there is a conservative atmosphere; particularly for Lawrence. I don't want to be the odd one."
"I was pretty nervous about it, and it turned out that he was very supportive." she said.
Mary doesn't regret not telling her
co-workers about her sexual orientation.
"It's nobody's business who you're sleeping with or who you want to be sleeping with," she said. "When I grew up, there was a real stigma about gay people. I'd just as soon not have that in addition to my job stress."
Matt Hydeman, Leawood graduate student, helps two students in the Academic Resource Center, where he works. Hydeman is one person who felt comfortable enough to come out in his work place.
When Scott Manning, Lawrence graduate student, worked as a French and Italian instructor, he first chose to hide his sexual orientation. During his second year in the department, he became involved with LesBiGayS OK and was quoted in the University Daily Kansan about gay issues.
"I got some backlash, nothing direct, from some students," Manning said. "They were disrespectful. I guess they thought of me as a less authoritative figure."
Matt Hydeman, Leawood graduate, feels secure in coming out about his sexuality in the workplace.
However, Manning's co-workers and the chairman of the department were supportive.
"I would be very unhappy if I were not out, because when I think of the times I wasn't out, I felt disconnected," he said. "I avoided talking about stuff. It's not worth it."
In 1995, a coalition called Simply Equal formed to add the words "sexual orientation" to Lawrence's human relations code. This addition made it illegal for anyone to discriminate against a person for employment, housing or public accommodation on the basis of sexual orientation.
Hampton said that coming out at work still was scary for her. She knew that the code would protect her. However, she said that people could always discriminate in subtle ways.
Coming out in the workplace also can affect a person's job in a negative way. But for Joe Cuevas, Topeka junior and student assistant for Upward Bound, the experience of coming out has been positive.
"I feel that I can express myself fully," he said. "I don't have to hide anything at all."
Although some gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people have positive experiences while being out in the workplace, Andy Dunlap, who is working on his social work
practicum as a therapist, said that many people didn't come out to their co-workers for a variety of reasons.
"Some people will feel uncomfortable to be identified as a queer person," said Dunlap, also a Lawrence graduate student.
Hampton said that some closedet
people could be afraid of discrimination, receiving less respect or losing the possibility of advancing professionally.
"But the more people who are out in the workplace, the more straight people know that we're just as normal as they are," Hampton said.
Ellen to come out with a little help from her friends
The Associated Press
BURBANK, Calif. — ABC finally confirmed everyone's suspicions: Ellen will come out as a lesbian.
To help Ellen Morgan make that historical network leap, the quirky character, played by Ellen DeGeneres on the show *Ellen*, receives help from her friends; actress Laura Dern, talk-show host Oprah Winfrey and singers Melissa Etheridge and k.d. lang. All celebrities will appear in the long-anticipated, one-hour episode scheduled to air April 30 on ABC.
there's a lot on our shoulders here."
While several sitcoms, such as Roseanne and Mad About You, have featured homosexual characters, Ellen Morgan will play the first gay lead in a prime-time show.
"There is an incredible amount of care going into this — that it's done right and done well," said executive producer Dava Savel. "We realize
In the episode, half of which was taped last Friday night, Dern plays a lesbian who comes into town with an old college friend of Morgan's.
Morgan finds she's more attracted to Dern's character than to her male friend, said Mark Driscoll, another executive producer.
Winfrev plavs one of Morgan's therapists.
In the portion of the show already taped, a nervous Morgan declares she is gay and confesses her attraction to Dern's character, said David Tomb, a member of the audience who heads a gay and lesbian organization of United Airlines employees.
Her declaration, made in an airport, is accidentally carried over a public address system, he said.
ficult, why can't we just come out and say who we are?"
The idea was leaked to the media last September. Since then, there have been several on-air quips by Morgan and off-air jokes by DeGeneres that she may be "Lebanese" or that the show would add a new male character named Les Bian. In one episode, Morgan told her divorcing parents: "What if I said something shocking to you? Like my whole life has been a lie and I'm really... left-handed."
Etheridge will perform a song during the opening title sequence, and lang will appear as a singer/waitress in the bookstore.
The plan for the series, now in its fourth season, already has generated some expected criticism from conservatives.
"It was really important to Ellen to reveal it in such a way that everybody, including middle America, was on board." Savel said. "That everybody saw her angst, everybody saw what she was going through, and that by the end, you're rooting for her."
Savel and Driscoll wrote the episode, along with DeGeneres and consulting producers Tracy Newman and Jonathan Stark.
Driscoll said DeGeneres first mentioned the idea for the episode in June.
"We all met in the summer and Ellen pitched this idea and we toasted it with champagne," he said.
After many discussions with the network and Ellen's production company, Walt Disney Television, on how the coming-out episode would be handled and where later episodes would go, ABC chief Robert Iger gave his approval.
"It's never going to become the lesbian dating show," Iger said. "I think a lot of people are nervous about that. Ellen Morgan has always had problems dating anyway, and that will certainly continue."
WEDNESDAY
Bill Janovitz (formerly of Buffalo Tom), Lincolnville and Glitter Kicks, 7 p.m. at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. Cost: $6 and $7 advance tickets.
Leenkat Soh, 8 p.m. at the Nouvelle Deli, 129 F. 10th St. Free.
The Cowa, Skeleton Key and Priss, 9 p.m. at The Granada, 1020 Massachusetts St. Cost: $6 and $7 advance tickets.
THURSDAY
Student Recital, piano students of Sequira Costa, 7:30 p.m. at Swarthout Recital Hall Free.
University Theatre Series, The Merry Wives of Windsor, 8 p.m. at Murphy Hall. Tickets available at the Lied Center, SUA and Murphy Hall box offices. Cost: $12 public, $6 students and $11 senior citizens.
Springhill Jack and The Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, 9 p.m. at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. Cost: $8 advance tickets.
Urban Safari, 9 p.m. at the Nouvelle Deli, 129 E. 10th St. Free.
FRIDAY
Rod Block's Jazz, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Nouvelle Deli,
129 F 10th St Free
University Theatre Series: The Merry Wives of Windsor, 8 p.m. at Murphy Hall. Tickets available at the Lied Center, SUA and Murphy Hall box offices. Cost: $12 public, $6 students and $11 senior citizens.
Visiting Artist Series: Sarah Avery Guyver, viola,
7:30 p.m at Swarthout Recital Hall. Free.
Moe and The Coyote Project, 9:30 p.m. at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. Cost: $5 and $6.
The Samples and Stir. 6 p.m. at the Granada, 1020 Massachusetts St. Cost. $12.50 advance tickets.
Doghouse Blues Quartet, 8 to 11 p.m. at the Kaw River Brewery, 729 Massachusetts St.
SATURDAY
■ University Theatre Series: The Merry Wives of Windson, 8 p.m. at Murphy Hall. Tickets available at the Lied Center, SUA and Murphy Hall box offices. Cost: $12 public, $6 students and $11 senior citizens.
Alan White & Friends, 10 p.m. at the Nouvelle Deli,
129 E. 10th St. Free.
Shag and Level, 9:30 p.m. at The Bottleneck, 737
New Hampshire St. Cost: $5 and $6.
Visiting Artist Series: Maurita Murphy Mead, clarinet; 3:30 p.m. at Swartwhout Recital Hall. Free.
SUNDAY
**The Business and Warzone, 8 p.m. at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. Cost: $10 advance tickets.**
Choral Concert: The Joy of Singing! featuring the Kansas City Choral, Topeka High Madrigals, Lawrence High School Acappella Choir, Lawrence South Junior High Singers, KU Chinese Students' Choir, KU Oread Concert and the KU Chamber Choir at 7:30 p.m. at the Lied Center. Tickets available at the Lied Center, SUA and Murphy Hall box offices. Cost: $4.
Leo Kottke, 7 p.m. at Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts St. Cost: $16.50 reserve seating.
MONDAY
Faculty Recital: Richard Reber, piano; 7:30 p.m. at Swarthmore Recital Hall. Free.
Open,Mike, 8 p.m. at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. Free.
TUESDAY
Student Recital Myra Fernandez, cello; 7:30 p.m. at Swarthout Recital Hall, Free.
Lied Center New Directions Series Presents Population at 8 p.m. at the Lied Center. Tickets available at the Lied Center, SUA and Murphy Hall box offices and Ticketmaster outlets. Cost: $22 and $18 public, $11 and $9 students, and $21 and $11 senior citizens.
George Hunt, 8 p.m. at the Nouvelle Deli, 129 E. 10th St. Free.
Universal Honey, The Black Water and Nasa's Little Secret, 9 p.m. at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St. Cost: $4 and $5.