Lee University Student

[TheSecretsLessTraveled]

Hey, my name is Brandon Petaccio and I am a student of Lee University, number three on the Equality Ride's list of schools to visit (now on the list of visited schools). I spoke with a good number of the EqRiders, and I would like to use these discussions to contribute to these forums.

Some details: I am not gay and never have been. I do, however, have a very close bisexual friend, and I hang out with him every time I go home on break. I will not pretend to have always been as comfortable with homosexuality as I have grown to be. I've never ever condemned homosexuals, but I guess it wasn't until my friend "came out" that I was forced to deal with my discomfort. So my current feelings on the issue have developed over years, through my interpersonal experiences.
Additionally, I actually consider myself at least minimally aquainted with the discrimination that gay students endure. In middle school, there were several students who - for whatever reason - believed I was gay and expressed this belief via post-it notes on the back of my shirt saying "Stay away, I'm gay," for one example. This is, in fact, the first time I've ever shared that with anyone.

So I have my fair share of emotional investment in the issue of homosexuality, and I hope that I can begin by disagreeing theologically while simultaneously affirming that it isn't personal.

I should add that I do not intend to post many theological messages, as I feel that theological reconciliation is actually secondary to other goals of the EqRide.

[schoolboi]

glad you are here. look forward to your posts.

[Zerbie]

Hi Brandon, welcome.

You raise an important point that isn't stressed often enough: homophobia affects everyone. You don't need to be gay to be the target of it. Someone's assumption (right OR wrong, as you found out) or mere association with gay people can incite people to Who Knows what kinds of behavior. We all stand to benefit when harassment/discrimination/cruelty are wiped out, not just gay individuals and their families, but all of us.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, and again, welcome.

[Jennifer5]

Welcome! Glad to have you here, I'll look forward to reading your posts.

[Daniel]

Welcome Brandon. I am new to this forum myself and graduated from Evangel College in '81.

I like very much what you write about theological reconciliation as being secondary to the aims of the Equality Ride. That is an astute perspective. This kind of matter, does, and should, take a bit more thought than a few hours conversation or debate. After all, educating oneself is a life-long endeavor. Perhaps the point of the ride, as I've come to see it, is to 'start the conversation'. It has to begin somewhere, does it not?

As you point out, it's not a happy experience to have yourself reduced to a sticker on your back. As you also point out, contact with your bi-sexual friend lead you to respond differently to these issues. That's what it's all about: having the courage to see people as they are without the label and frisson of theological concerns entering the picture.

[TheSecretsLessTraveled]

Zerbie, Thank you for extracting and amplifying that very important point. Homophobia doesn't benefit anyone and hurts more than gay people.

Daniel, thank you for recognizing the importance of prioritizing. My hope is that the EqRide will better communicate these priorities, if they do indeed exist. Many people were unclear on the EqRide's goals when they came to my school (Lee University). Through discussion, it became apparent that theological reconciliation was an impractical goal for a two-day visit, but this was only apparent through discussion.

[Daniel]

A title for a book? I see a future there

There is a saying that goes something like this "When you come out of the closet everyone else goes in." This is often said in moments of black humor, but nevertheless expresses the dynamic involved to some extent.

It takes courage to address these matters when doing so goes against a dominant culture or prevailing system of thought which has other fish to fry.