Civil Rights Fight
By: Jan Aguilos
Issue date: 10/7/08 Section: Culture
Summer Wosu, a 23-year-old senior, majoring in media arts from Jersey City, can identify with this problem: "I came out to my mom when I was 18, and about a few months later she actually kicked me out of the house." Luckily, she's found a few places to live since then. She now lives with her dad, who has been divorced from her mom. "I just want to stay there until I make more money," she said, stating that it is a temporary situation.
Nevertheless, many are accepted by their parents. Derrick Pitts, a 20-year-old business administration major from Newark, came out to his family during Thanksgiving dinner when he was a high school senior. He associates himself with heterosexual friends and doesn't affiliate himself with the gay community.
"I don't think, personally, that there is a gay movement," said Pitts. He also said that he is not active in fighting for gay rights.
"I don't think that my sexuality makes me more or less socially or politically active," he said, "I feel that people are active, socially or politically, depending on their personality, gay or straight."
Still, many do celebrate the gay movement. National Coming Out Day is on October 11. One of the celebrants will be 19-year-old Michael Gennari, a music education major from Staten Island, NY. "I feel that in order to create awareness of the hostile environment that the people of America have chosen, it is necessary for people to share their identities with others," said Gennari, a member of the G.L.B.T.F. (Gay Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Friends) Alliance, which is a student club/ organization here at New Jersey City University.
There is a growing gay identity and we might be in the middle of its epoch.
http://www.hudsonpride.org/ or call 201-963-4779.
Nevertheless, many are accepted by their parents. Derrick Pitts, a 20-year-old business administration major from Newark, came out to his family during Thanksgiving dinner when he was a high school senior. He associates himself with heterosexual friends and doesn't affiliate himself with the gay community.
"I don't think, personally, that there is a gay movement," said Pitts. He also said that he is not active in fighting for gay rights.
"I don't think that my sexuality makes me more or less socially or politically active," he said, "I feel that people are active, socially or politically, depending on their personality, gay or straight."
Still, many do celebrate the gay movement. National Coming Out Day is on October 11. One of the celebrants will be 19-year-old Michael Gennari, a music education major from Staten Island, NY. "I feel that in order to create awareness of the hostile environment that the people of America have chosen, it is necessary for people to share their identities with others," said Gennari, a member of the G.L.B.T.F. (Gay Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Friends) Alliance, which is a student club/ organization here at New Jersey City University.
There is a growing gay identity and we might be in the middle of its epoch.
http://www.hudsonpride.org/ or call 201-963-4779.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Renata Moreira
posted 10/09/08 @ 3:29 PM EST
Great article, Jan! I am glad to see an LGBTFA member quoted, since they (Alliance members) have been working so hard to increase their visibility and to organize the LGBT students of NJCU. (Continued…)
leylany
posted 11/20/08 @ 7:18 PM EST
im happy that people are taking action on this. been a lesbian teenager it is hard to go on the everyday life, although it is easier the issues are still there. (Continued…)
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