mdschert posted:coach2709 posted:Here is something I think we all forget now that we are all older and have experienced life. About 25 years ago when I was a teenager getting ready to start that college journey this would have freaked me out. Even today in 2016 most kids have not been exposed to the gay culture except for what they see on TV. Now they may have been around gay people but never know it. A lot of teenagers aren't sure if they are which creates a lot of stressful situations for them or they know and not sure how to interact in the world as an out gay person. Kids don't have the life experience USUALLY to function in these situations. But as they get older and experience the world this attitude changes - well it changed with me. I have no problem around LGTBQ people and that is finally me getting some maturity although I act like an idiot in many other areas of my life.
I don't think we need to cast judgement on the OP son for reacting this way. At some point he will learn and mature to be able to function in the real world that we all do.......or he won't and he will rightly be projected as a close minded racist / bigot / whatever. But if that's the case then it's a taught behavior and that falls on the parents. I like to believe he will learn to be more open minded.
My son already lives in the real world. He has two openly gay classmates at his small private school that he is friends with. This is not about being open minded in any way nor intended to be anti-LGBTQ. His only exposure to the college has been a flamboyant college rep that wears too much jewelry and is preoccupied with his sexual preference. Would you join a gay fraternity if you were straight? Are you a bigot, immature, close minded or anti-LGBTQ for not wanting to join? Of course not, its just not your thing. Same with my son.
Mdschert, I get it. I don't think this is any different than if a potential student was a book nerd and he got a party all day and night vibe from the person who came to recruit him, or vice versa, a life of the party guy getting the impression there was no partying on campus and rules were strictly enforced.
College is about growing up and becoming your own person without parental influence, you have to feel comfortable there or you won't become the person you are meant to be. I would cross a place off my list that had a large population of students that belonged to one religion that I wasn't a part of, it doesn't mean I hate God, I just wouldn't be comfortable. If a school just flipped from all male to co-ed I wouldn't be comfortable being one of the first women, nothing against men, it's just a comfort thing. You can't explore who you are unless you are comfortable where you are and who you are with, and no one else can dictate that for you or tell you you are wrong to feel that way.
It's not about being anti-anything, it's about being in a place you find comfortable.