We are a student group on the campus of Howard University, a premier Historically Black University
located in the nation's capital of Washington DC.

Our stories :: SGL on an HBCU campus

As college campuses (HBCUs that is,) go, it could have been much worse. I have found that the most frustrating and negative experiences that I have had have been those occasions in which, out of shame, fear or some other life-stifling emotion, my non-SGL companions and administration have actively ignored my existence as a black man who loves other men. There is a friendly fear, which is both institutional and individual on Howard's campus, of being associated with someone who is same gender loving. For me, that is the most humiliating feeling.

Of course, I have seen overt discrimination on this campus from the sly "misunderstandings" in the chapel to my own recent battle with an Afrikan nationalist student group. These types of situations I almost expect as our people progress toward greater unity, working out the "kinks" of our own exclusion. I am, though, constantly amazed that a university whose history as a breeding ground for leftists, progressives and radical thinkers and leaders, is still so afraid of the "gay" issue. In spite of all this, I am reminded of the powerful need that our community, the Black Diaspora, has for us. And for that I tell Howard and any other black institution, I am home and I am not going anywhere!
~ Chris

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    For over a century, Howard University has stood as the leading example of what a Black institution of higher education is supposed to be. Howard’s longevity personifies what the African American race is capable of when it unites and fights for a common goal. Unfortunately, the Black race is not known for its willingness to accept, acknowledge, or even appreciate the contributions of its gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, or questioning subdivision. And, unfortunately, Howard is not exempt from such conservative behavior. Howard University is, as it should be, a leader in the educational field; however, Howard University, as with many HBCUs, is lagging behind in its support of the GLBTQ student community. The Bisexual, Lesbian, and Gay Organization of Students at Howard (BLAGOSAH) is at the forefront of the fight for the rights of the Howard GLBTQ student population. BLAGOSAH stands as the voice communicating the concerns and desires of a community that would otherwise be overlooked by University administration.

As a homosexual male at Howard, I have found that living and matriculating on such a prestigious campus has been daunting at times. Fellow students and faculty are somewhat reluctant to embrace the issues of the GLBTQ student population. So, why stay? Each day I ask myself this question, and each day I arrive to the same conclusion. Howard University, with its many faults, is capable of positively affecting the global community in so many ways. So with this in mind, I accept Howard University, imperfections and all, as I strive to make Howard a more accepting university for every student, regardless of sexual orientation.
~ Robert

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