I WAS KNOWN AS "THE LESBIAN ON CAMPUS": At Least It Was Exposure To Some People (Celia)

I came out my sophomore year and joined Allies right away. There was one or two other OUT students that I knew of.

In college, I didn't really care about being out. I sort of immediately became the president of Allies and did a lot of stuff around campus. People I dated came to school and I held hands with them while we were walking around. I did get a lot of crap from people, but so many people were really supportive as well. It was sad to be known as “the Lesbian on campus”—before people really knew me, that is—but it was nice to know that it was exposure to some people, I guess.

I’m really curious about how accepting campus is now. I’ve visited and it was so nice to have the ALLiES gathering [the GALA Reception] over Homecoming [2007], where I got to meet many of you. I remember doing that once when I was in Allies and we had a couple come in. Always a small group, but it's so nice just to gather and share stories.

I wasn't as politically minded back then- and I really didn't know much about anything at all. I didn't really have any role models as far as learning about politics relating to GLBT issues. Sadly, I didn't do as much with Allies as I would have liked (in retrospect anyway)—but at least it was going and we did a few things... it wasn't until I moved to DC that I learned things and met up with different types of people and really learned more.

I live in DC now—have been here for 6 years. I’d definitely want to buy a house, get married, have children, etc.

I LOVE LEARNING ABOUT RELIGION: That's Why I Took Theology Classes In College (Celia)

I was baptized Christian, and my family sort of fell away from church when I was in my early teens. I asked them to take me back to get confirmed—I was always so curious about religion and very interested in it. I still am.

I took a ton of different religious classes in college and was a sociology/anthropology major. I loved learning about why people believed different things, the need/want to believe, and different things that people believed and how that differed from what I believe.

We invited Buzz from the Religion department to come speak about the Bible and homosexuality. He does an amazing job. I also love the UCC’s "God is still speaking" campaign.

I don't really align my views with any one religion—and while church is sometimes an interesting place to go, I haven't really found that organized religion works for me right now. Maybe some day in the future!

I BROUGHT HOME BUTCH WOMEN: My Parents Replied, "Why Don't You Just Date A Man?" (Celia)

I love my family. We've always been close. We've sort of distanced more in the past few years, as my two sisters and I have grown up more, moved away, and they've been in more serious relationships. That's sad to me.

My mom asked me if I was gay- on IM [Online Instant Messenger]! She then told the family. She was really, really great about it. Sometimes she makes comments that make me wonder—I think she believes that being straight is an easier route in life, but she has no problem telling her friends (in small town Iowa) that her daughter is a lesbian. She's claimed she's known since I was young. My dad did take a bit to adjust, but he is wonderful as well.

My sisters were fine—and I sometimes feel they're more out for me than I am! They are both straight.

My mom didn't talk about my sexual identity with all the members of the family—and still maybe hasn't. However, we're really not that close with many of them, so I don't really care.

My parents did have a problem with my image more when I came out—my dad less so. They didn't like my more butch phase... or people I dated who were butch. I heard that classic comment, "Well, why don't you just date a man?"

I sometimes don't know if it's that I don't feel comfortable—or if it's because we're just not that close—but I don't share a ton about my relationships with my parents. I usually don't tell them I’m dating someone for a few months—and don't share any of the details. I don't know how much my sisters share about their boyfriends. But my family has always liked and been wonderful about meeting people I've dated. Even parents of people I've dated.