Reunions: LGBT alumni address challenges, hopes

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An audience of around 60 students and alumni gathered in McCosh 46 on Saturday afternoon for a panel titled “Efforts of Princeton University Students and Alumni for LGBT Equality.” The talk was sponsored as part of the University’s Reunions programming by the Princeton Equality Project and the Fund for Reunion/Princeton Bisexual, Transgendered, Gay and Lesbian Alumni Association.

Participants in the discussion included Rep. Jared Polis ’96, Mark Burstein, the University’s executive vice president and the former chair of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, and Karen Magee ’83, a University trustee and a senior vice president of Time Warner, Inc., as well as student representatives from PEP.

The panelists, who all said they live openly as members of the LGBT community, discussed attitudes toward LGBT individuals in the United States as well as the efforts of University community members in favor of LGBT eqyality.

Magee opened the discussion with a brief history of the FFR, which was established in 1986 when a group of Harvard and Yale alumni decided to launch an association for Ivy League LGBT alumni. “This was actually the beginning, or precursor, to the Fund for Reunion organization that we have today,” she said. “This was really wholly accidental.”

The panel focused on the question of whether there was a fundamental difference between being a leader in the LGBT movement and a leader who is a member of the LGBT community. Polis, who is one of four openly gay congressmen and the first openly gay man to be elected to the House as a freshman, said that he did not really consider himself to be a LGBT leader. Instead, he said, he felt “more like someone who is an elected position who's gay.”

“I wouldn’t say that Barack Obama is a leader of the black movement,” he added. “Is there still a black empowerment movement? Yes, and it’s important, but it’s probably less important than it was 30 years ago ... As you have more and more gays in the building, you probably need less and less protesting outside.”

Polis said he was optimistic that the United States would eventually achieve LGBT equality, noting that he “had it easier” than did previous generations and that he saw the country achieving equality “sooner rather than later.”

“I don’t think it would be a detriment for someone running for president of the United States,” he said of the difficulties faced by openly gay citizens. “I don’t think people will care that much about these things anymore, and this is becoming increasingly true.”

Burstein, however, stressed that it was still difficult for gay people to live openly in certain situations, such as in corporate environments.

“I feel that an essential part of leadership is being both out and open,” he said. He added that this part was particularly important for informing people against misconceptions. “There are still many people out there who have very big questions about what it means to be LGBT and open.”

Burstein praised the University for being open and accommodating to its LGBT community. “I think you also have to think about mobilizing straight allies in different ways,” he said. “I am a huge beneficiary of straight allies.”

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He recalled that President Tilghman had been very welcoming and reassuring when he first joined the University and told her that he was gay. “First thing Shirley says: ‘Oh my God, I want you here even more ... You'll be just fine.’ ”

“It's a big statement from her,” he added.

Magee and Polis also shared advice with current students who may be looking for their place within the LGBT community.

Polis said that it was no longer a handicap to be an LGBT person running for office. “I would recommend anybody running for office to be out before you run,” he said, adding that it was “not a big deal, unless you're seen as hiding something.”

Polis stressed, however, that it was much harder difficult for a Republican to live openly than for a Democrat to do so. “If you’re a Democrat, there's no reason to be closeted,” he said. “I don't see why you would be.”

Magee, who had been “outed” in the workplace in 1992 after defending a lawsuit, suggested that LGBT students work for organizations that are known for being accepting of the LGBT community. “Don’t join a workplace where there are no open executives,” she said.

At the end of the panel, Burstein, Magee and Polis answered questions from members of the audience and concluded the discussion by noting the importance of having more members of the LGBT community in high-profile positions to foster more general understanding and acceptance.

“I would say that if you're not involved, to get involved,” Magee said.