Dear Studlife staff,

Homophobia isn’t a joke. At least, not to the people it kills: In the past month, seven students across the U.S. have committed suicide due to homophobic bullying. These victims included two boys who were only 13.

Some of your writers, though, don’t seem to think that homophobia’s a big deal. In fact, they seem to view homophobia as a mildly ridiculous and totally harmless matter. Specifically, Friday’s “Itinerary for Freshmen” article proposed that freshman who get rejected by would-be flirtees should “assert that they are probably homosexual anyway.”

Let’s break that down:

1) Freshman flirts, gets rejected. 2) Freshman wants to make some stinging, petty, insulting comment in order to get the last word. 3) Freshman picks the perfect insult: a label that everyone wants to avoid and that would thoroughly shame/offend anyone. And that label is…“homosexual.”

So now, let’s see what messages Studlife has just sent:

1) “Homosexual” is an offensive, degrading term; in other words, it’s bad to be gay. 2) It’s totally acceptable, and kinda funny, to use “homosexual,” and, by extension, other LGBTQ labels, as insults. 3) Making homophobic comments totally doesn’t upset anyone, doesn’t drive anyone deeper into the closet and doesn’t make it harder for anyone to accept themselves.

Excellent messages, Studlife. This article absolutely contributes to a campus environment where everyone feels safe and valued and where LGBTQ students know they’ll be accepted for who they are.

In fairness, let me say this: At one time in my life, I thought I was straight. And back then, I used to wonder why gay people were so touchy about gay jokes that seemed so harmless from my perspective. Surely those little comments didn’t hurt anyone’s feelings. Surely gay people were just being too uptight and needed to loosen up. Surely those offended faces and angry words were just an exaggerated overreaction.

Well, here I am on the other side, Studlife. It took me a while to realize it, but I’m gay, and now I “get it.” I get why all those “innocent” little jokes and comments make people so upset. Anyone who has ever been in the minority—whether as a gay person, a Jewish American, an African American, or any other minority group—you all know that those jokes about you burn. They send a message; a message that you’re not welcome, that you’re ridiculous, that there’s something wrong with you. They send a message that your identity makes you fair game for everyone’s jokes and everyone’s crap. And in the meantime, the majority goes on pretending that those jokes don’t mean anything, that they’re harmless and that you just need to lighten up.

Studlife, I’m sure that you did not intend to offend gay students or advocate homophobic harassment. I’m sure you did not intend to contribute to an environment where LGBTQ students feel like they’re judged or dismissed or laughed at. But Studlife, that’s exactly what you did with this one brief sentence in this “Itinerary for Freshmen.” Even if you don’t understand it, or can’t relate, you just need to take my word for it: that line was homophobic, and it hurt. I know you tried to even things out with that extra line about gay students calling would-be flirtees “heterosexuals” if they get turned down…but let’s be real: there is absolutely zero potential that anyone would ever get offended for being called “hetero,” and heterosexual students do not face daily difficulties and prejudice for their sexual orientation. LGBTQ students do.

So in all sincerity, I believe that Studlife needs to issue a formal apology for this homophobic reference. Furthermore, Studlife should issue a statement of solidarity with the LGBTQ community, especially in light of the recent suicides that have claimed so many young gay American lives. We all know what’s right, so please do what’s right. LGBTQ Americans will never achieve equality or safety in this country unless straight allies are ready and willing to extend their hand. Studlife, are you ready?

– Jonathan Branfman
Class of 2011