BY ZEN VUONG
At Loyola University Chicago, freshman Eddie Chong, 18, is openly gay. He even put on Daisy Dukes and did splits during a drag show hosted by the college's LGBT group, Advocate. However, when Chong goes home for Thanksgiving, he won't be able to share his newfound identity.
"Loyola is so diverse. Just going back to a white, middle-class town will be boring and not as exciting as coming out and being yourself," he said.
Chong's parents threatened to take away his tuition if he changed majors from biology and pre-medicine to anthropology and art history. So he needs to "keep conflict at a minimum," he said.
Advocate recently planned to give tips on coming out to the family and dealing with home life without getting the Thanksgiving blues, but everyone ended up socializing. Instead of a prep talk, the club ended up having a pep talk.
"The spirit of Thanksgiving was really felt overall because we're in an area where everyone can come together, and we could just be ourselves, and we're thankful for that," said Seth Cohen, 20.
Club officers corralled the 35 undergraduates off to the Granville Red Line stop. A large group of Advocate members laughed when they noticed an advertisement for Urban Village Church above their seats: "We love gay people. We love straight people."
Students talked and joked loudly as they headed to Hamburger Mary's in Andersonville. Advocate officers picked this restaurant because it is in one of Chicago's two gay-friendly areas, said treasurer Andrew Gaillardetz.
Tim Mulkerin, 18, is always slightly nervous when he goes home even though his relationship with his family is fantastic, he said. A couple of years ago, his parents found a letter he wrote to his boyfriend.
"I almost got kicked out of the house," Mulkerin said. He convinced his parents of his heterosexuality but will retract his story during his junior year, when he will have to be financially independent anyway.
After a bad breakup two years ago, Cailee Anello, 18, came out to her devout Christian mother. Her mom pulled out the Bible, saying, "I love you. … I don't want you to go to hell," Anello said. Now she's supportive, and Anello plans to bring her girlfriend of five months home for Thanksgiving in Bartlett, Ill.
On the Advocate website, Gaillardetz reminded students that whatever happens at home, they will be returning to Loyola and a supportive environment.
"If you know your parents are struggling with your sexuality, don't force a conversation," he said. "Sometimes it just takes time for them to accept it, and you want to enjoy your time with your family as much as you can."
Mar Curran, club president, said people did not talk about Thanksgiving break that much.
"There was a lot of mingling among people who wouldn't feel comfortable speaking to people otherwise," he said.
Jared Donald, 19, is "kind of new to the gay thing," he said. He has been to a few Advocate meetings, but three straight, freshman girls always accompanied the transfer student.
Referring to the function, he said, "I was able to break out of my shell. Figuring out myself and my comfortability with who I am is a big part of life right now."
Donald planned to come out to his mom during Thanksgiving break but has postponed until December because his parents and three sisters are going on a cruise to Alaska without him next week. He will be home alone for Thanksgiving.
Undergraduates who need more tips on coming out or returning to life pre-Advocate can visit www.advocateluc.org .