At an informal panel discussion last night, students and administrators said it is difficult to be homosexual at Dartmouth and even harder for gay minorities to openly express their sexual preference.
"Where my race and my sexuality come together is filled with so much emotion," said Alexis Sainz '96, a Latino who was one of the panelists.
"Coming [to Dartmouth] made me focus those two things at once in a community that may not be so friendly. It's a hard line for me to walk," she said.
Co-sponsored by the Dartmouth Rainbow Alliance, the Afro-American Society and Cutter-Shabazz Hall, the discussion titled "In the Life" featured a dialogue between six panelists and about 35 students in attendance.
The panelists included Uju Anya '98, Jocelyn Bramble '96, Makishma Cabo '96, Sainz and Dartmouth Rainbow Alliance co-Chairs Herlena Harris '96 and Mario Martinus Jr. '98.
"It has often been said that in a community like this, there is a heightened sense of homophobia," said Class of 1996 Dean Sylvia Langford, who moderated the discussion. "Some people say it is particularly acute for people of color."
Several African-American panelists said they had experienced the greatest amount of intolerance among members of their minority community.
"I still see that there is a certain level of people feeling closeted," said Maddie Richardson '91. "I don't see same-sex intimacy or any kind of work done in the last three years in the African-American community."
Earl Plante '94, former co-chair of the Rainbow Alliance, said he exposed his homosexuality as a resident of Cutler-Shabazz Hall, which houses the Afro-American Society's.
"There were people outright talking behind my back, giving me the evil eyes ... It was very hurtful," he said.
Martinus said he found it odd that "a community who'd been discriminated against would discriminate against me."
"There seems to be a sense of shame that a black man could be gay," he said.
Some panelists said the black community was more welcoming to the idea of lesbianism than of male homosexuality.
This is partly because images of African-American males are associated with stereotypical masculine sexuality, according to Martinus.
"You don't want to think a brother is gay because that takes away his blackness," Martinus said.
Anya also said that the "hyper-sexuality" stereotype of African-Americans hinders acceptance of homosexuality.
"As a black student at this school, it doesn't matter to me what you do, who you do it with," Mario Barge '96 said. "A lot of black men haven't reached that mentality when it comes to sexual preference."
Some speakers said the "politically correct" movement has led to an atmosphere of greater tolerance of homosexuals.
"I've heard people say 'I didn't know black people were gay until I came to college,' " Anya said.
The meeting's sponsors said they plan for continued discussion of the issue in coming weeks.
"This is only the first dialogue," Langford said. "I don't think we've even really begun."
"You can't educate people who hate you, but you can educate those people who are willing to listen," Anna Jager '93 said.
"You people here are willing to listen," she said.
AAm President John Barros '96 said a "dialogue that didn't exist is now taking place. A door has been opened, community-wise."
