LGBT Co-op thrives

MATT WIEGLE

During your years at Yale, you will have many new experiences. Among them may be the experience of coming out of the closet, finding a gay community, or simply meeting "out" lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders.

Whether you're out, in the closet, straight, or somewhere in between, at Yale you will encounter many people who are openly gay. Understanding and appreciating diverse experiences is one of the most exciting aspects of Yale life. We are everywhere: in your college, in your classes, in the gym, on your teams, and in your singing groups. We are all sorts of people: best friends, professors, teaching assistants, freshman counselors, and roommates.

Those interested in queer social and political organizations will find many groups to explore. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Cooperative at Yale (the Co-op) is the principal homosexual organization on campus. It's an umbrella organization for LGBT campus groups, seving as the political wing of the different Yale LGBT communities. In 1996, Co-op members voted to add "transgender" to their title in order to recognize individuals who do not follow biological definitions of gender, such as those who identify with the opposite gender but are not necessarily gay.

The Co-op sponsors a wide variety of events throughout the year for the gay community, as well as the larger student body. Look for the famous Co-op dances every month or so, and plan ahead for Pride Week in April. It features lecturers, performers, and artists who come from all over to celebrate the queer community.

YaLesbians, GAYalies, and Biways are discussion groups available for Yalies who want to share their experiences with other students in similar situations. Abraxas is a similar group just for freshmen. Pathways is a telephone peer counseling service available for anyone who has questions about sexuality.

Yale's atmosphere is generally tolerant of homosexuality, and large LGBT communities offer support and friendship. Many gays choose to involve themselves in activism and politics, while others exist more discreetly within every aspect of Yale life. Either way, you will find that Yale is an open community where people of all sexual orientations and identities can learn and grow together.

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