LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Student CAMP: A Question of Rooming |
by Kristen Minor |
It's 12:30 in the morning the day of deadline as I write this. I can't say that I'm at all tired, though. Here's why: Today, I got this letter in the mail. It was from Dartmouth. The first words were "Congratulations." I utterly cannot believe that I made it into my first choice. Now all I have to do is figure out how to pay for it. (Not that big a problem I can always set up a begging station in the courtyard.) Anyway, now to the real topic of this column. As some of you know, I am in the band and chorus at my high school. We shall be leaving later this month for the illustrious band trip to Disney. For months now, I've been planning out what I would like to do on the trip. The highlight is going to be the anniversary party of my girlfriend and me. We're rooming with two of our extremely nonhomophobic friends. It's going to be fabulous. There is a snag, of course. There always is. Recently, I had a discussion with someone from the music department. I was informed that parents and students had been complaining or "voicing concerns" about my girlfriend and I. Basically, the complaints were as follows: a) Straight couples can't room together, so why should gay ones be able to? b) Homosexuality is perverted. c) They might have sex. d) (My favorite.) They might make their roommates gay. Addressing (b) and (d) are wastes of time, so I'm going to concentrate on the other two. Firstly, having sex when other people are in a room with you is beyond disgusting. (I realize that people do it, but that's generally with the approval of all involved.) I was offended by the suggestion that Dawn (no, it's not her real name) and I would attack each other like crazed sex monkeys while two of our friends are just a few feet away. Besides, it's a breach of trusta bunch of people that I like and respect think that I'm going to behave myself and represent my school, and that is what I'm going to do. The fundamental question, and one which I have considered a lot, is whether gay couples should be able to room together. I've been waffling on the issue. On the "no, they shouldn't" side is the fact that no, it isn't fair. A couple is a couple, and we shouldn't be made an exception. Of course, Dawn and I can't hold each other's hands in the hallway out of fear. We can't do anything that "normal" couples do. Hell, we're not a normal couple, and we never will be. Not to be depressing, but I honestly feel that I'll be long dead before two girls walking through a school holding hands doesn't elicit at least one look of disgust. I can't see it happening. The way I see it, we have a lot of things working against us, and it's about time that we get a break. That's not a good argument, I know. A better one: It's straight society's rules that make Dawn and I an abnormal couple in the first place. We don't and can't follow their rules. This one isn't any different. Besides, gay couples have roomed together before. Why should we suffer because we're open about it? The whole situation worries me, honestly. I don't want to be taken out of the room. There are few things worse than having to sleep in a bathtub for a week because the beds are occupied by homophobic idiots. I was told that we're not going to be switched out unless a really big deal is made of it, and I'm hoping this is true.You'll hear about the trip in my next column, I'm sure. And to the concerned parents out there who might be reading this, my advice is to watch out for your daughters and keep in mind that certain things are not your business. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 10, No. 3, Apr. 7, 2000. |