Hello, my name is Jstone

[JStone]

I watched “Equality U” a couple weeks ago and thought it was very well done. I think these individuals are extremely brave in what they are setting out to do.

Before I watched this documentary I was talking with someone about my experience going to Nyack College. Shortly before graduating I had confided in a friend about how I was gay. She went behind my back and outed me which resulted in my last semester having to go to counseling once a week, have a spiritual mentor, and attend a meeting with a counselor and a woman who left the homosexual lifestyle. It was a really tough time. I lost almost all of my friends at school because I was forced to come out. I hated having to go through all these mandatory sessions. On top of it all, before I graduated, I had to write like a 10 page paper about homosexuality. It was ridiculous. I went to the dean, not even mentioning the reason why I and to go to counseling, and told him that I didn’t feel as though my situation was handled properly and that I would not write the paper. I got out of it and that was the last I saw of Nyack College.

Now, a few years later, I look back on my experience and am almost grateful. I look at the circumstances that some of the individuals featured in “Equality U” have had to face at their schools and realize that it could have been worse. At the time I felt like I was maybe one of a few people that were gay on campus. I recently learned that there were so many more than I could have imagined, many of which ended up dropping out and never returning to school. It saddens me that we pay to be at a college which we think is the best for us, that gives us every opportunity under the sun, yet it strips it away as we discriminated against and made to feel as though we are dirty and unworthy.

Thank you for this documentary and for all the individuals who push to have this dialogue with these colleges and universities. It’s so important. It rehashed these memories at being at Nyack and how this situation, among some others that followed, really messed my path up. Now I’ve made peace and am ready to move forward.

I’m ready to finally begin my life.

[Daniel]

I too thought that there couldn't be any gay people at my school- Evangel College. Turned out, however, that half the Concert Choir- half the music department- in fact- was queer. Many of us have gotten in touch since then.

Funny how that is.

We think we are alone. But we aren't.

Glad to hear that you are working through things, and ready to move forward.

[antiochian]

Hello and welcome. Wow, and I thought my Baptist college was backwards. That was a terrible thing that your "friend" did, and beyond rotten that the institution treated you as it did. Bright blessings in your new journey of affirmation!

[Gennee]

Hi Jstone and welcome. I graduated from Nyack College in 2008. I attended the New York City campus. Which campus did you matriculate to? I am a transgender person who is also a crossdresser. I never came out to anyone there because I was still working through living with my new identity. I was 56 at the time. I have come out only to my wife and son.

It would have been a shock to everyone if I came out but I'm glad that I didn't. One of my professors I have known for over 35 years. I was at peace with my decision. In time I may come out to some more people.

I didn't know any other transgender people. One of my classmates, I discovered later, was gay. I do understand what students who attend a Christian college have to deal with. I'm so happy that Equality Riders go on the rides to reach out to our glbt brothers and sisterson Christian campuses.

I'm so happy that you're here, Jstone.

Gennee

[JStone]

I think this is really neat. What a great sense of community from these forums. Thank you for your replies.

Gennee - What a great story you have. I attended the Rockland campus.

[Gennee]

Originally Posted by JStone

I think this is really neat. What a great sense of community from these forums. Thank you for your replies.

Gennee - What a great story you have. I attended the Rockland campus.

Thank you, Jstone. I was on the Rockland campus during my freshman year for two Saturdays. I was taking 'Nyack Heritage' for a 2 credit course.

Gennee

[Jennifer5]

Welcome Jstone, glad to have you here.

I'm sorry that you had to go through being outed by your friend, that must have really hurt. I am glad that you have been able to move past it though and move on with your life.

"That which does not kill us, will make us stronger." (I'm not sure who said that originally)

Welcome.