| OPINION
| October 12, 2004
Staff Column
Come As You Are
We should put our assumptions
aside and acknowledge each others’ sexual preferences
“I’m sorry, but I don’t
really date men,” is a pretty good way to turn down a date.
That should be the only time we have to tell others about our sexual
preferences.
Aside from that, I don’t care about your love life, and you
shouldn’t care about mine.
Unfortunately, gay, bisexual and otherwise non-straight people often
feel marginalized by a heterocentric society that makes unfair assumptions
about sexuality. That is, we assume everyone is straight —
or normal — until they tell us otherwise.
Right now, we need something like National Coming Out Day, which
was yesterday, when people who have been “in the closet”
tell friends and family about their sexual preference. We need to
set aside time to support one another and celebrate our individuality.
Right now, people are scared of revealing who they are because they
will be somehow punished if anyone finds out. They may be kicked
out of their parents’ homes or lose their financial support.
Some also fear losing their friends. Coming Out Day is a chance
to show our peers that we respect who they are.
Of course, heterosexuals don’t come out of the closet; they
don’t have to announce that they like members of the opposite
sex.
But if gay people have to come out, maybe straights should, too.
In some senses, it’s more logical to like people of your own
gender; at least they have parts you already know how to handle.
Straight partnerships are rather freakish and awkward, considering
that neither partner truly knows what the other needs physically
or emotionally. Honestly, you can’t blame anyone who prefers
a same-gender relationship.
But until we all grow up and learn to accept one another, we’ll
keep celebrating Coming Out Day until it becomes so ingrained in
our culture that Hallmark sells rainbow cards that say, “I
love you for who you are,” and children are visited by the
Coming Out Day Leprechaun.
Maybe then we won’t need a National Coming Out Day because
no one will have to “admit” anything. I hope we’ll
learn that heterosexuality is not the only sexuality. Just like
people are more than black or white, we’re more than straight
or gay.
Until then, you don’t have to wait for the next Coming Out
Day to accept yourself and your peers. If you feel the need to come
out, throw yourself a party; buy some cheap wine and some cookies,
invite your friends and family and have a massive Barbara Streisand
and Cher sing-along — even if you’re straight.
— Mary Richert is an English senior and staff columnist
for The Shorthorn
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