Having the courage to be who you are is not always easy. For me it has always been a game of who to tell and who to let think what they want. As a young woman who grew up in the midst of the Bible belt, in southern Alabama, there was no question. Being gay is wrong. As a close friend of mine jokes often: there are only two types of sexualities: straight and wrong. Though she says this as a joke and we all end up laughing, she is not far off. Where we are from that is the mindset of most people including my family, church, and employers. So it would not come as a shock to tell you that I struggled with myself and even my worth throughout high school, but lets fast forward to college.
Coming to college helped me in more ways than I could name. I became comfortable in my own skin, became my own person, and I branched out. I met new people. People who did not judge me by my sexuality, but who accepted me for me. But, I was missing something big in my life. I missed the group of girls I was friends with in high school. I wanted to be part of a group again, so I did spring recruitment for Sigma Kappa. Thankfully, I made it through and became a sister.
I could not have been happier! I was a part of a nationwide group of service oriented, friendly girls. A piece of my happiness at this time also had to do with me meeting a girl. Soon enough we began dating and I had to approach the issue of telling my sisters I was gay. I was nervous as anything, because reactions of my family and others from my hometown haunt me. I did not want to mess anything up with this new group of girls who I loved already.
Slowly I began to tell the sisters I was closest with. I was surprised and relieved at their reactions. They did not care who I was attracted to. They accepted me for me and love me for it. Though I told these few girls I knew eventually the whole group would need to know. So my girlfriend and I decided to attend my semi-formal. I was more nervous about going out on our first real couple outing than anything to begin with. Then I realized I had to introduce her to a group of girls, who I did not know their reactions to. But, then we got there and everyone was accepting and kind and excited to meet her.
I cannot begin to describe the thankfulness and love I have in my Sigma Kappa sisters. I realize at this point in my life people may not like who you are or what you do, so it means the world when a group you care so much about accepts you for who you are. High school taught me a lot, but college and my sorority have taught me so much more already. I cannot wait to keep growing in this group and spreading the love they have shown me and my girlfriend by extension.
