Sexclamations: PRISM Voices Thoughts about Sexual Identity

By ERIN HILL
Columnist

Nearly everyone holds an opinion regarding the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community. Regardless of what you may believe, reading or listening to the perspectives of people that you know and can attach a face to is likely to have an effect on those beliefs in some shape or form.

This week, I wanted to take the focus off my advice and commentary because I believe your voice should be heard. I posed the question, “What is one thing you want straight people to know about your sexuality or gender expression?” to members of PRISM.  Hopefully, this compilation of thought-provoking quotes gives you some insight into what your peers’ thoughts and feelings are on what it means to be a member of the LGBT community. I also included some quotes from famous and/or historic sources to add to the greater perspective.

“Sexuality is a beautiful thing, and essentially, it is about falling in love. Bisexuality just means you can fall in love with twice the people.”  ~Tekla Taylor, UMW Freshman

“Who would give a law to lovers?  Love is unto itself a higher law.”  ~Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy, A.D. 524

“Lesbians aren’t just flannel-wearing butch women. Lesbians are a community of diverse women who have a variety of interests, appearances, gender expressions and ways of loving.” ~Becca Zoller, UMW Junior

“Everybody’s journey is individual.  If you fall in love with a boy, you fall in love with a boy.  The fact that many Americans consider it a disease says more about them than it does about homosexuality.”  ~James Baldwin

“I’d rather be black than gay, because when you’re black you don’t have to tell your mother.”  ~Charles Pierce, 1980

“Bisexual people are not greedy.” ~ Emily Butler, UMW Freshman

“From the time I was a kid, I have never been able to understand attacks upon the gay community.  There are so many qualities that make up a human being… by the time I get through with all the things that I really admire about people, what they do with their private parts is probably so low on the list that it is irrelevant.”  ~Paul Newman

“We are all real people and we all want the same things in life.” ~Tim Stark, UMW Freshman

“What is straight?  A line can be straight, or a street, but the human heart, oh, no, it’s curved like a road through mountains.”  ~Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire, 1947

“I want people to know that being bisexual does not mean you’re promiscuous, is not just a “phase” and does not mean you can’t make up your mind. It’s just as legitimate as any other sexuality.” ~Haley Campbell, UMW Freshman

“I am not a ‘label’… no matter how you describe me, it doesn’t encompass all that I am.” ~ Leah Yegneswaran, UMW Freshman

Special thanks to Tekla Taylor for collecting responses to my question at this past week’s PRISM meeting. Feel free to attend the PRISM meetings every Monday at 9 p.m. in the Red Room. All are welcome, regardless of whether or not you identify as LGBT.