I think the two guys in this article need to grow up and realize the world they are living in. What are they planning on doing when they get into the job world and they have to work with a gay guy? Are they going to try and pressure him off the project because he is gay...NO. You don't have that option in the real world. That is discrimination and they would be in big trouble. If they have such a problem with it they can move and leave you a triple to yourself!

I'll never understand why some people get so bent up about where a man likes to put his penis.

This is really quite disgusting behavior and I encourage you to seek out a roommate or two that aren't so insecure in their own sexuality that they can't share a room with someone of a non-straight orientation. I'm sure you'll find plenty of people who wouldn't mind sharing a room with a well-spoken, polite guy. I say polite because had it been me, their names would be scrawled across the grafitti wall by now for all of campus to see. Congrats on taking the high road.

You have far more guts than your two would-be roommates. Stories like this make me sad for what my alma mater has become. I understand your potential desire not to, but these two individuals should be outed for their actions immediately. They don't belong at Ohio University, plain and simple.

Talk to Andrea Manning and see if you can get into Adams Hall next year. We'll welcome you.

email me at st135906@ohio.edu if you want help

This is stupid. The two roommates should note that students at OU are forced to live with members of the same sex. Bottom line: somebody's gonna get a gay guy. Deal with it. One year I was stuck with a bunch of severely annoying pot-smoking hippies, and another with drama queens who constantly picked fights and had loud sex while I was trying to do homework (with guys, not each other). That's life; living with people can definitely suck, but you might as well learn to deal with the fact that not everyone is going to live up to your expectations or accomodate your needs.

They shouldn't even complain. The letter-writer sounds like a perfectly nice guy. Compared to the living nightmares I (and many other people) have been in, this is nothing.

Of course, the gay guy could get a single, but it costs more.

I could see the concern if the gay roommate was coming onto his roommates and making unwanted advances, but from what I know of people who live with gays/lesbians (including my older sister, when she was a freshman), that almost never happens. The gay roommate is generally accepting of the fact that the roommates are straight and it is therefore futile to look at them sexually.

By the way, I do NOT support same-sex dorm room arrangements, which other colleges have experimented with. I would be furious if I were assigned to live with a straight male. I would be more comfortable living with a lesbian roommate than with a guy.

ok first of all is anyone here not gay or lesbian? i would not feel comfortable as a straight guy living in a room with a homosexual. I am not a homophobe and i could be friends with a homosexual but not live with him. What if i come back and him and his lover r there? what about after i shower. if guys and girls are not aloud to live together straight guys should have the right not to live with gay guys becuase it could cuase them to be very uncomfortable.

I'm not gay, and I would have no problem living with a homosexual. If I did, and he had his boyfriend over, whom he loved deeply, great. We should all be so lucky to find real, meaningful love.

What IF you come back and his lover is there? What ABOUT after you shower? What are you afraid of? As Chris said in his letter, you're not going to catch "the gay" or be roofied and gang banged by some roving gang of queers. Get a grip. Maybe he should be offended if you had your girlfriend over. Ever think of that?

Ugh.

Let's make this a little less heteronormative:

"Ok first of all is anyone here not [a straight man or woman]? I would not feel comfortable as a [gay or lesbian] living in a room with a [heterosexual]. I am not a [heterophobe] and i could be friends with a [heterosexual] but not live with him. What if i come back and him and his [girlfriend] r there? what about after i shower. if [members of the same sex] are not aloud to live together [gay] guys should have the right not to live with [straight] guys becuase it could cuase them to be very uncomfortable."

Right... All gays and lesbians are completely centered on making you feel uncomfortable as it is their way of infecting you with teh_gay.

ou2011, I suggest you get involved with some LGBT organizations on campus, go to some activities, and really try to get to know some LGBT students-- Because I am sorry, even if it wasn't your intent, what you said was woefully indicative of your homophobia.

Okay, so I get that this has got to be the most awkward situation for Chris, but really, why the letter to the editor? From my experiences, the people in housing have been quite easy to work with. Also, my other question, why does a sophomore take a random triple room assignment? Especially a gay student? As awful as this is to even say, Chris must have been aware that there is a large constituency of OU students that are not comfortable with gay people. I certainly don't mean to be blaming the victim, I'm just wondering how Chris got himself in this situation in the first place.

Also, just a thought, but I've heard of some pretty nasty ways that people drive unwanted roommates out of their rooms, especially in situations where two people thought that they had a triple all to themselves. Are we even sure that they're really homophobic? I mean maybe they're just posturing in that (awful) way to get an unwanted roommate to leave so they can have it all to them selves.

this is stupid. who gives a shit. the two kids dont feel comfortable with a homosexual in their room and im sure a lot more people would agree if they were in their situation. that idiot that said they dont belong in ou is completely wrong. every1 can believe what they want to and if they dont feel comfortable living with a homosexual im sure there is a good reason. It was stupid to write the letter to the editor. Also no1 knows the other side of the story besides the three kids and its stupid for anyone to say anything about the other two kids.

"ok first of all is anyone here not gay or lesbian?"
--Me. Totally straight. Not that it matters in the least.

"i would not feel comfortable as a straight guy living in a room with a homosexual. I am not a homophobe and i could be friends with a homosexual but not live with him. What if i come back and him and his lover r there?"
--This is absurd. So what? You walk into the room and he and a date are sitting around talking or watching TV or any other perfectly acceptable roommate behavior. Oooooh, scandalous. And if by "r there" you mean they're doing the nasty, then you should know that coming back to a dorm where two people are having sex all up in your face is almost ALWAYS going to be uncomfortable, no matter what orientation they, or you, are. And what makes you think he would do such a thing anyway?

"what about after i shower. if guys and girls are not aloud to live together straight guys should have the right not to live with gay guys becuase it could cuase them to be very uncomfortable."
--Why should people have to pander to someone's own unreasonable discomfort? If a white student has racist tendencies and feels comfortable with a black student around, should the black student be made to feel unwanted? Of course not. It isn't a roommate's fault that you (not literally "you") have issues. The two roommates in this story are the ones with the ridiculous request, not Mr. Uihlein. Really, you and the two roommates shouldn't flatter yourselves thinking that any gay man on campus is going to go mad with carnal desire seeing you in a towel.


"Okay, so I get that this has got to be the most awkward situation for Chris, but really, why the letter to the editor? From my experiences, the people in housing have been quite easy to work with."
--I think this situation calls for both responses, and I'm sure he will be going to housing or already has. I mean, wouldn't he have to? Either way, instances of blatant discrimination by students on our campus shouldn't be swallowed down by the victim. It needs to be brought to light, and be addressed. These people should be ashamed of themselves.

"Also, my other question, why does a sophomore take a random triple room assignment? Especially a gay student? As awful as this is to even say, Chris must have been aware that there is a large constituency of OU students that are not comfortable with gay people. I certainly don't mean to be blaming the victim, I'm just wondering how Chris got himself in this situation in the first place. "
--Before my freshman year I tried to get into a triple for the cost efficiency. Also, maybe he liked the location. Or the thought of possibly making two instant friends. Either way, students at OU shouldn't feel discouraged from picking whatever dorm they'd like for fear of anti-LGBT sentiments. I know you don't want to blame the victim but that's just what you're doing.

"Also, just a thought, but I've heard of some pretty nasty ways that people drive unwanted roommates out of their rooms, especially in situations where two people thought that they had a triple all to themselves. Are we even sure that they're really homophobic? I mean maybe they're just posturing in that (awful) way to get an unwanted roommate to leave so they can have it all to them selves. "
--As far as I'm concerned, it's just as abhorrent and offensive. They made Uihlein feel unwanted and unworthy because of his sexual orientation. Does it really matter how you feel about LGBT individuals inside when you ostracize them in your actions? And if what Uihlein says is true about their Facebook statuses, well, I for one am going to take them on their words.

"every1 can believe what they want to and if they dont feel comfortable living with a homosexual im sure there is a good reason. "

I'd LOVE to hear one. No gay stereotypes applied to people you don't know allowed!

lol @ meh's use of the phrase "heteronormative." Heterosexuality IS the norm, since humans reproduce that way and at least 90% (based on gay-rights activists' own estimates) of the population is straight. Get used to it.

But still, I think most of these arguments against accepting a gay roommate=bs. Most of the potential problems they bring up (what if my roommate comes on to me? What if they have sex in my room?) are simply respect issues, unrelated to sexual orientation.

A disrespectful roommate will make you feel uncomfortable and lock you out while hooking up with their current girl/boytoy. A respectful roommate won't. As someone who's had a few AWFUL (yet straight) roommates, I can assure you that sexual orientation is irrelevant when it comes to this.

lol @ HerzogAEH's misunderstanding of the term "heteronormative". You were almost there so you get a 1/4 kudos.

Google is your friend, guuurrrlll (In addition to sociology, queer, and gender studies)!!!

Also, being straight, I am "used to it". LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

One of the first google results: "Heteronormativity is a term used to refer to the institutionalization of heterosexuality in a society."

Which is what I was referring to. You're never going to succeed in abolishing heterosexuality as an "institution," as long as upwards of 90% of people are straight. Now stfu <3

Hopefully this won't distract from discussion that actually matters.

"You're never going to succeed in abolishing heterosexuality as an "institution," as long as upwards of 90% of people are straight."

That is not the intent though. Heteronormativity reveals constraints and expectations placed upon society when heterosexuality is the only orientation viewed as "normal". My point (in regards to ou2011), is that heteronormativity is blinding and destructive concerning societal dynamics between straight and gay people. In a heteronormative society, only straight people come out on top.

Seriously Herzog... at least you make attempts, which is admirable, but sometimes you need to look a little deeper.

This is not going to turn into a pissing contest. Let's just keep talking about gay students who are unfairly discriminated against.

If I can chime in, I've lived with a homosexual before. No problems. Hell, I had more problems with the fact that I also lived with two jocks/future frat boys (I'm a nerd, so there was friction). College is supposed to expose you to things you aren't comfortable with. That's how you grow.

Alright everyone needs to calm down...first of all for all the straight people, I understand where your coming from with the simple fact that yes its uncomfortable for you to live in a room with a homosexual. Thats understandable, but you also need to look at the fact that if you're 100% sure of your sexuality then why should it matter...you're straight you know your straight, so why does it matter what someone else does in their life. You have to realize straight people take things for granted, if your a Guy can kiss your girlfriend, hold her hand, hold each other in public and not worry about it, but if you're gay and you do that with your boyfriend all hell breaks loose, people stair at you, people yell things at you, some people even throw things. I mean whatever I'm not ashamed of my sexual preference, and honestly its no one else's business. In Chris' defense hes a homosexual, he didn't decide to room with these guys because he wants them. Hes just looking for new people to branch out to, so they're straight. You know what get over it, there are gay people in the world and your going to have to deal with them someday, and you can either get over it or persecute them, what ever decision you make, you need to own up to it when it come.

The point is, just because Chris is gay doesn't mean hes gonna try to do anything with his roommates, just because your straight does that mean you want ever girl that you see?

and Chris, you need to make your own decision on whether to stay in that room or not, you need to put some serious thought into it.

I'm willing to talk to anyone who disagrees with me or who wants to back me.

Congratulations, this story has made national news. I have never been so embarassed to be a graduate of Ohio University. Those two students need to grow up, because behavior like that will not fly in the real world. I'd also like to remind the guys who are saying they would not feel comfortable living with a gay roommate, that until my junior year, my roommates did not know I was gay. My classmmates did not know. My fraternity did not know. A lot more of your friends are gay than you realize. Grow up.

Matt
Atlanta, GA

Christopher...About 15 years ago I attended a small, post-graduate art school in Atlanta. I was the only gay student who was out of the closet. One day I noticed a flier from another student on the school bulletin board. The other student was looking for a roommate, and his flier stated "all lifestyles accepted so long as they don't include probation officers". "Cool," I thought, "the guy has a sense of humor and I don't have to worry about being turned down as a roommate simply because I'm gay." Except, of course, that I did have to worry.

When I met this other student at his apartment to interview for the slot as roommate I recognized the guy as a very talented student who had been in a few of my classes. He was a prematurely gray, long-haired, flannel wearing, ostensibly straight guy who clearly had no intention of living with a gay guy. He didn't say that, but it was painfully obvious. He called me first thing the next morning to tell me "a friend decided to move in". Yeah, right. It didn't bother me that I wouldn't be living at that particular apartment because it was a dump. But it did feel terribly unfair to be turned away from a potential living situation solely because of my sexual orientation.

Fast forward six or seven years later. I was living in San Francisco (with two great roommates). One afternoon I was sitting in a cafe in the Castro with one of my roommates. A guy came into the cafe, and, though I couldn't quite place him, he looked strangely familiar. My roommate waved hello to the guy, so I asked my roommate what the guy's name was. It was the same person who had turned me down as a roommate because I was gay! The guy's long, graying hair had been cropped and dyed black; he had lost about 20 pounds and had clearly been spending some time in the gym; and he had swapped the flannel shirts in favor of a tight t-shirt and motorcycle jacket. And, of course, he had come out of the closet.

It was cold comfort to learn, years later, that I had been denied a living situation simply because my potential roommate was too freaked out about his own sexual orientation to share an apartment with an openly gay fellow student. But it hammered home what we all know: those who are the most uncomfortable with gay people are showing us nothing more than how uncomfortable they are with their own sexual orientation. Chin up, Christopher. My prediction is that you'll one day share a drink in a gay bar with at least one of those guys who don't want to live with you.

peterparker
Los Angeles, CA

Matt from Atlanta, how did this make national news exactly? I mean, was it on CNN or something?

I just love how breeders assume that just because someone is gay they are automatically attracted to EVERYONE of the same sex.... Do you, OU2011 find yourself attracted to EVERY person of the different gender just because you are straight???? Every think that maybe a gay guy wouldn't find you attractive? or a lesbian?... geez... hate to burst your bubble, but really.

I'm assuming that the 2011 represents your class... i really hope that in the next 3 years you really grow up. IT's sad to think of another homophobic person being cultivated into society. ... Grab ahold of OU's amazing LGBT community.... and educate yourself on your ignorance.

Chris- i'm sorry for what you have to go through... I completeley understand. But i can assure you, you will find people who accept and cherish you for who you are.. i know i did an di'm forever grateful.

Wow, Jabs, way to be heterophobic. Give a little, take a lot much?

ROFL. COPTER.

Srsly tho, those two guys are big morons. I mean, if you're going to have a gay roommate, he'll for sure be clean! HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Srsly tho, obvs these 2 dudes are big ol' closeted gay guys, and I feel real sorry for them. LOL NOT.

Srsly tho . . .

Srsly.

Not sure why the author felt the need to dramatize the story in the newspaper. Why this can't be handled privately is beyond me? People prefer roommates based on a number of factors.

I am sure you could find campus crusaders who would not want to live with wiccans because of their religious beliefs. Or Muslims who believe being gay is sinful, and on and on. Just as you believe being gay is righteous and normal, others don't and you must respect their feelings.

Why make a big deal out of a couple guys who would prefer not to live with a gay roommate?

The bottomline is all people have preferences for who they live with. When you live in close quarters it is important to feel comfortable with your roommates, and if you don't then you don't. No matter how racist or homophobic they may be. Why try to live with them and prove a point when you are only going to make them more uncomfortable? Seems pretty selfish to me. Sorry. I think they are telling you so that you can find an alternative because they won't be happy with you and you wont be happy with them next year.

jpmo13-
The issue is that the roommates are pressuring and nearly threatening (I've read more of the exchange than is related here) HIM to leave when he has no problem with the room. If they have a problem with the living arrangement, they can leave. It doesn't make sense for him to be pressured to.

If my (unknowingly) racist mom doesn't want to sit next to a black guy on the bus, she can move, but she certainly can't ask him to move. That'd be effed up.

-ben

To DenimAndGingham,

I don't know about Matt from Atlanta, but I got to this link from Towleroad, a very popular blog.

Honestly, my first reaction to seeing this piece come up on Towleroad was a pat on the back to myself for not choosing some backwater hick town for my university years. I'm sure OU isn't actually like that, but it's when these small articles spread across the internet like wildfire that bad stereotypes get hammered in. Crazily enough, I have friends who refuse to ever visit the Midwest (except maybe Chicago) because they perceive the region to be full of fat, beer chugging, gay bashers living in a cultural wasteland. ...Not my words.

- David from Hong Kong posting in Montreal, QC

Thanks dpoon.

dpoon,

I'm sorry that you have such narrow minded, self-righteous friends who attach negative stereotypes to and adhere to gross generalizations about a group of people that they themselves accuse of doing the same thing to gay people. I hope they are good friends, because without them it could get pretty lonely up there on your throne.

i want to have sex with every kind of private part across the world.. all the different flavors and textures. then i'll be able to discuss my preference in sexuality

What the hell?