The Gender and Sexuality Diversity Association met on Labor Day at Fuzzy’s Tacos for their first meeting of the fall semester.
The meeting began with GSDA president Michael Winters relating an exchange he shared with a custodian while he waited for class to start.
“He asked me, ‘is it normal to see two men kissing?’” Winters said. “Frankly, I wish I saw it more.”
Winters said this is the very reason why we need a diversity group on campus.
“I’m aiming to see a more accepting, open and diverse campus,” Winters said. “There’s nothing wrong or inappropriate or shameful about being gay, it’s just something about you.”
Sociology chair Beverly Stiles said she attends GSDA meetings as an advisor, but she has a personal reason for being there as well.
“Before I was ever a sociology professor, I identified very closely with a cousin who is gay,” Stiles said. “He and I are like brother and sister, and I saw what he went through in terms of stigma and prejudice, even within his own family.”
Winters said GSDA is a safe space for all students regardless of major, grade, political alignment or sexual preference.
“If students want to be a part of this group, I’m not going to let them be hindered by anything,” Winters said, “by themselves, by the people that they go to school with, anything like that.”