Educators Speak Out

On Thursday, June 1, 2000 a wonderful event took place: a panel of four courageous individuals discussed their lives, their careers, their joys and their fears. For two, the experience marked the first discussion of their sexuality before a large audie nce of people they did not know. For another, it was an opportunity to share the realities of life for one of that still most feared and oppressed group, transsexuals. For the fourth, it was an another opportunity to reaffirm a professional life long live d out of the closet. All those who attended the session, Just How Multicultural Are We: GLBT International Educators Speak Out! were moved by the honesty and passion with which the panelists shared their "stories." Their contributions opened the way for a udience members share their diverse experiences in international education.

The panelists were Jan Kieling, Jennifer Lynn Martin, Kevin Morrison and Joe Murnan. Jan is a lesbian who has been working in study abroad for many years at Berkeley in California. Jennifer Martin, a transsexual who works with people from all over the wo rld in her role as conductor, is a Professor and Chairperson of the Music Department at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, Nevada. Kevin Morrison is a gay man who works at a small private college in Indiana. Joe Murnan, a gay man and Co-chairperso n of the Lesbigay SIG, works for the Hariri Foundation in Washington, DC. Bo Keppel, Immediate Past Co-chair of the Lesbigay SIG served as panel facilitator.

Jennifer spoke first, describing with sensitivity and humor, her journey from a man to a woman. She talked of getting back into education after her surgery, telling of her decision to include information on her sex change in the application process. Much to her amazement and delight, Truckee Meadows responded with an offer for an interview and subsequently, a job. Jennifer accepted the job, without telling them she was a lesbian in a committed relationship and would be bringing her partner with her! She (and many in the audience) laughed at the irony of being comfortable disclosing her transsexual status, but not her sexuality! Fortunately, Jennifer's school offers partnership benefits!

Kevin talked about working at a private liberal arts college with a strong religious background. While the climate for GLBT students is quite favorable, he did not find the same applied to faculty and administration, and was originally afraid to be op en with colleagues and students. Ultimately, he found a network of supportive colleagues and the courage to be more open about his sexuality. He revealed that he does not come out to students he advises because he fears it might jeopardize his effectivene ss with them. He has bonded with another gay person on staff and is finding that her support as well as that of straight allies has made working at his institution more rewarding. As Kevin related a few days following the panel, the experience of coming o ut to a large group of unknown people and the reception he received from so many of them made him realize he wants to actively work to improve the climate for GLBT people in international education. Kevin, therefore, joined the Advisory Board of the Lesbi gay SIG.

Joe Murnan shared the humorous story of being found out by the Chairman of the Board of his organization, a former US Senator, who was incredibly supportive, but still thinks Joe's sexuality is their little secret - Joe doesn't have the heart to tell h im that he has been out at the office almost from day one. He has found those in his office to be supportive, including the wife of his direct supervisor, who has offered to play matchmaker for him! Joe shared that his openness has offered him the opportu nity to provide support and guidance to international students in need. His experiences as a gay man working in international education have been overwhelmingly positive.

Jan Kieling, who had considered herself out for more than 25 years, began questioning just how out she was in her professional life when she attended her first SIG meeting in 1997. However, the event that pushed her into activism was the murder of Matt hew Shepard in 1998. Last year, when volunteers were sought to serve on this panel, Jan raised her hand and has since recognized that she owes it to herself and others to be more proactive in her support of GLBT issues. Her office now incorporates discuss ion about GLBT issues into their outgoing student orientation sessions for study abroad students. GLBT Safe Zone stickers and rainbow flags are displayed prominently, offering gay students a haven, if they need one. Jan, too, has accepted a place on the L esbigay SIG Advisory Board.

Audience members responding to the invitation to share their own experiences, talked about situations in which being out to students had been an asset; others spoke of environments where only limited openness was possible. A self-identified straight ma le affirmed that allies were an essential ingredient to improving the climate for gay students, as they could often be open about their gay-friendly status when gays could not. Another audience member, a lesbian working abroad, shared her concerns for gay students who were totally out while studying in the US, returned, expecting the same acceptance, and faced rejection or worse. Another educator told of a young gay Pakistani man who was outed to the campus community and, she feared, also to his community back home. The facilitator talked of having met two bi-sexual women who attended the Lesbigay SIG's social, saying it was the first place they had ever felt safe enough to be public about their relationship.

Also presented were the results of an informal survey conducted over Inter-L during the months of April and May 2000. The purpose of the survey was to assess the acceptance of GLBT people working in the field of international education. A summary of th e survey results and selected comments from respondents appears on page 6.