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SEXUAL ORIENTATION ISSUES/COMING OUT
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The college years are frequently when young people are either first recognizing or first acting on their growing understanding of their sexual orientation. Leaving home and experiencing newly found freedom at college is often a strong motivator for students to more fully explore and define their identities, including their sexual identities.
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It is not uncommon for gay, lesbian, and bisexual students to struggle with their feelings about their sexual orientations, to find it difficult to identify sources of support, and to feel very alone. Often they have told no one of this growing knowledge, including their families. Concern about the reactions of family and friends can be paralyzing, and a students' own ambivalence in coming to terms with their sexual orientation can be very confusing, often resulting in academic problems and feelings of isolation, depression, and anxiety. "Coming out" (beginning to identify as gay/lesbian/bisexual to oneself and others) is frequently a process that occurs over time and requires dealing with the risks of rejection and encountering homophobic responses from others.
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Resources
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The Gay-Straight Student Alliance is an active student group of gay and straight students that promotes dialogue and understanding about sexual orientation issues and endeavors to make the campus a welcoming place for all people. GSSA holds regular meetings and hosts an internet listserv available to all members of the University community. Friends of GSSA was created in Spring 2000 as administrator-faculty support for gay, lesbian and bisexual students. Friends of GSSA has developed "Safe Place" administration/faculty offices, works with GSSA on problems during the academic year, and provides a liaison with other administrators/faculty regarding GSSA information and other needs.
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The University Counseling Center (x5273) staff are available to assist students in exploring and coming to terms with sexual orientation. The Counseling Center also frequently offers a Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual Student support group.
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For further information, please contact:
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Gay-Straight Student Alliance http://gssa.wfu.edu/
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Friends of GSSA
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Co-Chairs: Dr. Mary Deshazer x1956, Dr. Charles Richman x6134
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University Counseling Center x5273
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Gay and Lesbian Student Concerns Mary Gerardy, coordinator x5229
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