Out On Campus At An HBCU
By Keith Boykin, in sexuality
Friday, April 6 2007, 1:42PM
A few years ago, we ran a series of articles from black gay college students, including several who were students at historically black colleges and universities. In light of the recent murder of a black gay college student at Norfolk State University, an HBCU, it seems like an appropriate time to revisit the topic.
Fortunately, the Associated Press has looked into the issue and has a story about it running today. It begins with a young woman named April Maxwell who enrolled at Hampton University in 2001 hoping to become a part of the college community. Instead, “I felt like I was the only gay person on campus — it seemed like nobody was really out,” she told AP. Maxwell tried to start a gay support group but was rebuffed by school officials who refused to charter it.
At Norfolk State, the school's vice president for student affairs says "you’ve got to recognize the history of HBCUs." Although students on his campus recently formed a gay-straight alliance, he reminds us that most HBCUs were founded by religious organizations. Ironically, the article makes no mention of Sean D. Williams, the openly gay freshman student who was murdered at Norfolk State just last week.
The problem is not confined to Norfolk State. "It’s kind of hard to be out on campus and still be successful," says Vincent Allen Jr., head of Safe Space at Atlanta’s Morehouse College. "As an out gay man, if I wanted to pledge, that door is pretty much shut to me. That’s just the way it is."
In some areas, the local pastors and religious types come right out and express their dislike of gays, and surely this makes it difficult for students to organize on campus. But in other areas, it seems we have adopted the same slick techniques used by white racists to disguise their discrimination.
At Hampton University, for example, Maxwell says “The people who are in charge, I really don’t think they’re for it." But school officials told AP that it's all a matter of stiff competition since there is a limited number of student groups allowed on campus. “No organization is given any type of special treatment,” says assistant vice president for student affairs Barbara Inman. “The university doesn’t have a position on gay and lesbian faculty and staff members.”
The school doesn't have a position on its gay staff and faculty? In 2007, that's an outrage and that's part of the problem at Hampton. To force a gay and lesbian support group to compete with a basket weaving group for recognition is to misunderstand the history of anti-gay discrimination that makes LGBT support groups essential and basket weaving optional. Students are not being harassed or beaten up because they want to join the chess club. But they are being abused and gay bashed because of their sexuality.
To deny a gay student group recognition because the rules don't allow for too many new groups is a failure of leadership and imagination from people who should know better. It's the same facially neutral discrimination that whites used against blacks years ago. In the 1960s and 70s, black students at white colleges faced opposition from campus administrators when they tried to set up black student unions. The faculty and staff at Hampton and other schools should be familiar with that history.
The students at these HBCUs deserve better.
Comments conceal
futurescholar06
April 6 2007, 2:01PM
As a graduate of an HBCU, I'm completely aware of this type of discrimination. It's a sad truth. However, I must admit that there is a change on the horizon. It is a small change, but significant. There are are many groups on campuses around the country who are making strides in this arena. Much like Civil Rights took time and understanding, achieving gay rights is going to time as well - not fair, but a reality.
Interestingly, I find it repulsive that HBCUs, founded because of lack of access to public education for African Americans would, now in the 21st century, deny equal rights to the LGBT community. If attitudes and policies don't change HBCUs will live up to the myth that they are nothing more than an outdated institution.
Also, to any current student or alumnus of an HBCU, follow Ghandi's advice and "be the change you seek."
cmoney
April 6 2007, 2:54PM
I was at an HBCU 20 years ago and couldn't have imagined an openly gay group being chartered by the university--not that there weren't hundreds of gay students there. These schools reflect the homophobia and hypocrisy of African-American culture. We are willing to take all the glory for the accomplishments of gays, but refuse to acknowledge that they exist or that they have rights. Our churches and families force men into sham marriages by shaming all men who are not married or thug like and then women bitch about "all of these faggots on the DL". Fraternities--which are full of gays (I know, I'm in one)--want the most accomplished and cool men, as long as they dont look gay. I wish there had been a gay group on campus when I was in school (I heard one was chartered at Howard few years back). If allowed to exist in an atmosphere of non-discrimination and tolerance, it could easily have become one of the largest clubs on campus.
Shaun A. Brown
April 6 2007, 3:08PM
I'm amazed and not surprised me that, most of the HBCU still hold on to the same outdated and negative attitudes and traditions that doesn't fit with the present. Colleges no matter what affiliation whether public or private should be accountable of the student body's well-being and safety. It is their responisbility see to it that there are more programs forming to better educate students to be more considerated to the GLBT population as well as all people.
Jon C
April 6 2007, 3:33PM
I agree that these barriers set up to slow down or to deny having a LGBT organization on a HB campus is reprehensible. However, I would encourage these LBTQ youth to remain positive and active and seek alternatives while they continue to push and protest their schools for representation. I feel they can still form a group that recognizes and supports each other with out the blessing and financial support of their colleges. The civil rights movement's heartbeat and lifeline was the churches and college students. In fact, my black faternity was not allowed on Howard's campus originally and the founders still had the courage to start their organiztion on their own and kept plugging away until its incorporation and university's acceptance three years later. My point is we as marginalized people and groups have to keep striving forward and making things happen for ourselves while we push for acceptance from the "status quo."
PHD2B
April 6 2007, 4:29PM
1. It is the responsibility of colleges and universities, HBCUs or otherwise, to organize campus centers and support services on campus for LGBT students. It is ridiculous to expect students to do it for themselves, and then treat it the same as a book club or drill team. Or, in the case of Ms. Maxwell, having idiotic administrators stand in the way of students organizing spaces to affirm themselves.
2.Quote: "But just as gay students can rightfully request campus inclusion, so too can Black college administrators deny it, argues the Rev. William Owens, an HBCU graduate and head of the Coalition of African-American Pastors in Memphis, Tenn" -- I am glad to know that we can so loosely assume the power/privilege of our oppressors as Black folks in disenfrancishing our own brothers and sisters. A mess.
3.We should be equally concerned about the race and class discrimination LGBT students of color experience at predominately white institutions and their better resourced LGBT campus centers too.
Mik_88
April 6 2007, 4:48PM
That's why I will never enroll into an HBCU. As much Republicanism as these conservo colleges will have.
The Captain
April 6 2007, 5:49PM
You know...I really want someone to tell me why empowering sexuality on campus such a need? I thought we attend school to learn. Kids go to college to get a degree. I think if they want to empower their sexual preference, the most appropriate place should be OFF campus.
futurescholar06
April 6 2007, 6:49PM
To respond to or answer The Captain's question. Allowing these groups to form and be supported by the administration is not about empowering sexuality, it's about empowering self identity. One of the HBCU's claim to fame is providing a nurturing environment for the African American spirit. Not allowing students to form these groups does nothing more than kill the spirit of young African Americans.
By the way, being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or even questioning is NOT a PREFERENCE, but just the way it is.
Mr. Jackson State Univ
April 6 2007, 7:18PM
I am an openly gay African American male at Jackson Stat University, which is a HBCU. Many people would say that I am not openly gay because I Don’t wear T-shirts that say “I am Gay and Proud" nor do I broadcast it around campus. It’s my personal business. I am totally out of the closet; however, that doesn't mean I am going to invite everyone in my life. I feel for some gay students at HBCU campuses it is hard to come out. I can recall my freshmen year when all the queens was trying to keep there business on the low and hiding the secret lives but now It's senior year and almost everyone I came in with is out ....even the trade...lol...Its funny...Personally, I decided that I have to live my life for myself and do me. I don’t live by society so called “moral laws”. Its seems to me that HBCU’s should be the place where AA gays should come out because JSU is fully of homosexuals.
Mr. Jackson State Univ
April 6 2007, 7:48PM
Although, HBCU's have a lot of catching up to do....Because we are in the 21st century... I will not slay them because at one time that was the only place where African Americans could be educated. Yes, the atmosphere is different @ HBCU's. I thank God for my dear Ole College home!!! YES, we have closed mined professors, students, and staff. However, by attending a HBCU it has empowered, encouraged, and enlighten me to become a more productive citizen in today's society.
Kola Boof
April 6 2007, 9:31PM
KEITH you bout to kill me with all this "cant post until more 20 minutes go by" stuff around here....UGH!.....I miss out on making so many comments. But anyway...I so admire the bravery of tenaciousness of this April Maxwell girl. In every sphere of black women's issues, whether those issues be gay or straight or both, we need more young women like her to rise up...and I especially hope April has read Alice Walker's "In Search of Our Mother's Gardens". We really need to imbue ourselves and our daughters with a new AESTHETIC, because frankly, I'm so saddened by the Over-Dominance of "weak" black women and girls right now. TRULY...we need to get our bearings and to go away and reinvent ourselves FOR OURSELVES so that we can produce a "new son".
Jared at Hampton
April 6 2007, 10:47PM
I can tell you first hand that what Ms. Inman said is purely an exscuse just to not let us, S.P.E.A.K. (Students Promoting Equallity and Action through Knowledge) on campus. I know this because a group was allowed to form on this campus... What do they do? Collect and discuss different types of Sneakers
Mel Smith
April 7 2007, 12:31PM
Well, I am not surprised by the actions of those administrators. People have this false premise that EVERYONE use or support that the Bible oppresses gay folks, which is a totally damn lie. Then we have these hypocritical black sellout ministers (especially the gay ones!), preaching their utter ignorance/bs. Why complain about color prejudice when you discriminate against black folks' right in your own community? The Captain, is it a preference that you like males over females or is it because you have feelings towards males? So cease with the ignorance.
test
April 7 2007, 2:55PM
test
Montel
April 7 2007, 3:42PM
Interesting thread. I have often wondered what it would have been like to attend a HBCU, just because I went to a state university in the late 1970's with over 25,000 students, and 100 at best were black, and there were no black venues at the time, so, I only knew a handful of black students. I'm not too shocked to see the somewhat anti-gay theme, since most of the ones spewing it claim to be church going on Sunday and getting their swirl on the other 6 nights outside of their sanctified marriage.
I take them and the rest of these silly, Bible thumping homophobes with a grain of salt. And, the only way they are going to overcome this silly fear and prejudice is to get to know gay men and women, who if these are state funded schools, they can't discriminate or risk losing their already low accredition ratings, no matter how much some has told them about men laying with men is wrong and other fairy tales.
Shurron Farmer
April 7 2007, 10:46PM
Hello Again, Keith,
I hope you remember me as we often talked at various events during your residence in Washington, DC.
I'm a product of Black Education; I come from Quincy, Florida, a small town with a majority black population (as was my high school from which I graduated in 1990). I attended Florida A&M University for my B.S. in mathematics (1990-94) and I attended Howard University for my Master's and Doctorate degrees in mathematics (1994-2001).
While I faced persecution throughout my educational pursuits, I wouldn't trade my education for anything. I'm proud to have received my diploma and degrees at Black institutions. In my opinion, the attitude of HBCUs toward gay and lesbian student organizations is nothing more than a mere reflection of most Black society. Such an attitude doesn't excuse any discrimination HBCUs may deliberately impose on GLBT student groups. I hope everyone who responds to this post is being objective and not judgmental about HBCUs.
cmoney
April 7 2007, 11:20PM
Despite the absence of an openly gay organization at the HBCU I attended, I wouldn't trade the experience for the world. I loved my school and would go back if I had to do it again. Like Shurron said above, these schools are a reflection of Black society. I didn't have any problems meeting gay students--and some beautiful ones at that! We just couldnt be open about it. I wouldnt throw the baby out with the bathwater by rejecting Black schools because they are backwards on gay issues. It's not as if all White schools are welcoming to gays, as evidenced by the Soulforce activist group being booted off of White campuses all over the country.
Mitch
April 8 2007, 1:21AM
The time is now for us, especially alumni, to support our HBCU brothers and sisters who want to start gay groups. These organizations can enhance the educational experience for everybody!
n.
The Captain
April 8 2007, 1:47PM
Organizations like this still doesn't help "wider society" or any educational institution as a whole.
Justice MH
April 8 2007, 5:35PM
Captain, you need to stop with the ignorance! This is to help students feel like they are actually part of their school!Excuse me, their gifts, and talents will be a huge help, and a blessings at that! LGBT students, people period, have so much to offer society. Captain as a matter of fact we have been offer our talents to our families, churches, schools, and the world! So once again your closed minded, reclosted case self can't help but spread your self-hating attitude on keith's blog, my own's, and everyone else. These groups are very much needed!
curious887
April 9 2007, 1:19AM
cmoney, I never attended an HBCU but my best friends all did. They loved it, especially my boy who attended Howard. But one friend told me a horrifying story of a guy who had to drop out of school (not Howard) because it got out that he was gay. His frat shunned him, his girlfriend (a beard) destroyed his clothes and told everyone. My understanding is he felt as if he had no choice but to drop out. This was about 20 years ago so maybe some things have changed. But I don't know considering this article. In any event, I don't know if you can really compare the Soulforce situation, which as I understand it, entails the group going around to conservative, private Christian colleges that disparage homosexuality and HBCUs, which include some state schools that should not be basing policy regarding student groups on Bible verses. I've only attended majority white colleges and while there was certainly homophobia, every school had a gay student group. To me, racism was a bigger concern at these schools.
C. Baptiste-Williams
April 9 2007, 9:55AM
Why support those that do not support you?
And to the Captain... if all you got from school was education you missed half the experience. The learning that goes in during college is more than just biology and world history... there is learning through experiences with others, hence the fraternity/sorority life, Student Government and others.
Negro
April 9 2007, 10:46AM
I am so sick and tired of listening the gays and their familiars complain about how hard they have it. Sorry to burst your bubble but in this country the average gay person, especially the white ones live better than the average. They make more money, achieve a higher level of education and overall have a higher standard of living. It just stuns me how the group with the most gets to complain the most and actually have the issues discussed at length. But try to have a converstation and race or poverty and you are told to shut-up. Reading some of these comments and I have to laugh at some of the trivial things that the word "horror" is used to described. Most of the homosexuality that is going on now is a result of people wanting to be kool and jumping on the bandwagon they see everyone else jumping on. Everyone wants attention and the sure way to get that now is to attach ones self to "The Movement"!
Robert
April 9 2007, 12:13PM
I'm still not sure I read this correctly.
"Most of the homosexuality that is going on now is a result of people wanting to be kool (sic) and jumping on the bandwagon. . . "
This makes the Captain's ignorance look almost benign.
Although it's not entirely unfamiliar; I remember versions of this bafflegab back in the early '80s, when I was at university. "Oh, all these people saying they're gay 'cause it's trendy." Really. If it's so trendy, walk across campus with a big "I'M GAY" button on.
I've known people who were thrown out of the house by their parents as teenagers - because they were gay.
I've known people who got beaten up (myself included) - because they were gay.
I've known people who lost custody of their children in divorce proceedings - because they were gay.
Wow, sure feels great being part of such a privileged group.
Larry
April 9 2007, 12:45PM
To the poster "Negro", that is a myth about the affluence of gay people. Check out this study -- Income inflation: The myth of affluence among gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans
Terrence
April 9 2007, 5:26PM
Some years ago, I attended Northwest Missouri State University, a Traditionally White Institution, for a full year and didn't feel like I could be "out and open" if I wanted. Also, there was no GLBT club at the school - not like I would have joined anyway.
Rural Missouri (90 miles north of Kansas City) was racist and boring, so I reluctantly decided to attend a large HBCU after being encouraged by a family member, who was already attending one.
I loved it. I loved the city. I loved my professors. I loved most of the students. I loved the vibe most of time. I was not open, of course, but I wasn't necessarily in the closet either. We had gay professors. We had gay personnel. Gay cheerleaders. Gay Student Council members. I hung around a few "clockable" students, and by most accounts, gays and lesbians (closeted and open) at this university did not have a problem.
Like other HBCU alumni have noted here, I wouldn't trade my experience, which overall was pleasant and inspiring, for nothing in the world.
Negro
April 9 2007, 5:42PM
Robert first off, lots of people get kicked to the curb for an lots of different reasons. News flash, gays don't have the market cornered on that front, there are lots of dysfunctional families out there. As 4 that ignorant comment, that sort of condesending attitude is so typical of people like you. A self-rightous advocate in love with the sound of your own voice, your smart and anyone who dares to disagree is "ignorant". Next! As 4 u Larry, I was born and raised in the middle of NYC and worked at a gay dental practice 4 5 yrs and B4 then at a beer distribution company. I Spent 10yrs going in and out of bars delivering alcohol to all the different clubs, including the gays ones. Don't tell me I don't know what I'm talikng, I could right a book about all the shit that I saw. Plz!
Black
April 9 2007, 6:01PM
Hey that girl in the pic is sexy as hell!
Luddite
April 10 2007, 9:42AM
Negro is obviously an angry Troll. Best to just ignore it.
Robert
April 10 2007, 12:18PM
Negro,
I take it back. You're not ignorant.
You're a hateful, pissy troll - but you're
NOT ignorant.
Better?
Jamaican
April 10 2007, 1:51PM
we deserve RESPECT and INCLUSION. We will get it.
negro
April 10 2007, 3:41PM
Hmmm! Name calling, the last refuge of the unintelligent. You have no response to any of my points so you imediately go to the insults. I guess my points were all right that's why Robert & Luddite choose to ignor them. Another thing, since when is disagreeing the same as being angry? Oh and in closing I am 6'4"/235lbs., the word troll hardly fits me. You know it's no fun having a battle of wits with unarmed people! LOL!
Mr. Mississippi
April 10 2007, 9:19PM
Negro...I believe when ROBERT addressed you as been a troll...he was suggesting or implying that you were OLD !!!...lol
Negro
April 11 2007, 1:20AM
I'm not old either! HaHaHaHaHa! I'm 30! Try again!
Robert
April 11 2007, 11:24AM
'Troll' is an internet epithet. It dates from way back in the Usenet day, and is a reference to a type of fishing. When someone lobs in an inflammatory post, comment or remark, for no reason other than to rile other people up, that's 'trolling'. Typically and traditionally, the 'troll' has nothing useful or appropriate to add to the discussion, but thrives on attention. As anyone with children knows, if an immature person can't get positive attention, negative attention will do just fine.
So, in short, it has nothing to do with someone's age, physical appearance, or whether s/he lives under a bridge.
Hope that helps.
Negro
April 11 2007, 11:49AM
Yes it does, Robert! Hmmm! It would seem to me using your definition that the word trolling applies to most people these days. Doing things just 4 the attention!
Skee Wee
April 11 2007, 3:59PM
You girls are late and tired !!!!.....lol
justme
April 12 2007, 3:34PM
i just transferred from an HBCU and the problem i see is that their is DENIAL. Not just with homosexuality, but with other issues like premarital sex and crime. The schools opt to ignore it and put in place bullshit policies meant to appease alumni. It's sad really. But on the other hand it's not as bad as people think.
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