Gay, lesbian, bisexual

and transgender concerns

 

Some gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender individuals, before arriving at Michigan Tech, wonder if MTU will be a "safe place" for them to pursue their academic goals while living out their lifestyles as non-hetereosexual students.

If you have these concerns, we recommend you make an appointment to talk with a counselor here at Counseling Services. Keeweenaw Pride is a student-led support group that is also a good first step in finding assistence in establishing yourself comfortably at Michigan Tech and in the surrounding Houghton-Hancock communities.

The Michigan Tech campus and the surrounding Houghton-Hancock communities are fairly average in having some areas of personal or social intolerance towards non-heterosexually oriented individuals as well as some other areas of clear individual and social tolerance and support. It is important to learn the community as quickly as possible and to find those individual and social relationships where you can feel comfortable as soon as possible.

 

Sexual orientation confusion or anxiety
Some individuals go through various life events which leave them wondering if they are truly heterosexual. In some cases, these individuals on reflection discover that they have been going through a stressful time in their lives and that these concerns surfaced because of their own hidden fears or biases. After resolving their life stresses, these individuals conclude that they are heterosexually-oriented after all.

Other individuals conclude differently. These individuals realize on relflection that their deeper identity is gay, bisexual, lesbian or transgender. This group of people realize their previous understanding of themselves as heterosexually-oriented was mistaken, and based perhaps on past fears of social rejection, lack of self-awareness or a lack of deep self-acceptance.

Sorting out one's deepest self-understandings and learning to accept oneself as heterosexual, gay, bisexual, lesbian or transgender is a difficult job, something that may best be done with professional support. If you are having such difficulties, making an appointment at Counseling Services is a good first step. All of the staff at Counseling Services have experience helping individuals sort out their basic sexual orientations, and can help you do so in an environment that encourages deep self-exploration and self-acceptance.

Coming out
Coming out refers to that process of 1) accepting your sexual orientation as gay, bisexual, lesbian or transgender; and 2) communicating that awareness and acceptance to your parents, family, friends and to your social and professional contacts.

Even after one has realized and accepted one's sexual orientation as gay, bisexual, lesbian or transgender, it is common at first to be quite anxious and concerned about revealing that sexual orientation to others. Fears of family or social rejection are common, and in some instances, justified. Developing the courage and confidence to socially express who you are sometimes takes time and a lot of outside support.

Seeing a counselor at Counseling Services and also finding support through Keeweenaw Pride is highly recommended in this time of anxiety and transition.

You don't have to go through this alone.