I also attended a small liberal arts college in the South in the 1990s so understand the struggle. I happened to be out in high school (even in the Deep South and firmly in the Bible Belt) and didn't hide my sexuality during that time (although my bf and some of the other guys I knew did). the fraternities were actually welcoming but I avoided joining for multiple reasons. So glad you found your path and are sharing your writing and stories with the wider world!
Thank you Jerry! Despite the above (and maybe through the lens of time and therapy), I remember my college and fraternity experience positively. As you will see in the next chapter, like the Delta Chi’s, these weren’t the average fraternity guys. They know my story now and I was able to come out to my friend before he passed away (he was a fraternity brother). In hindsight, I like to think that while the rest of the campus wasn’t particularly welcoming, they, at least would have supported me.
Writing to your nineteen-year-old self and to anyone still without the words, feels like a hand held out in the dark.
“Happiness isn’t something we earn” stopped me cold. Thank you for honoring your friend by turning pain into permission.
Line & Verse reads like a lighthouse: steady, compassionate, unashamed. I’m grateful this exists, for who we were, and for who’s reading it right now
So glad I stumbled upon your Substack. Really looking forward to reading your work. You write from a deep truthful place.
Thank you for the comment Nick, I appreciate it. I just subscribed and look forward to reading your work!
I also attended a small liberal arts college in the South in the 1990s so understand the struggle. I happened to be out in high school (even in the Deep South and firmly in the Bible Belt) and didn't hide my sexuality during that time (although my bf and some of the other guys I knew did). the fraternities were actually welcoming but I avoided joining for multiple reasons. So glad you found your path and are sharing your writing and stories with the wider world!
Thank you Jerry! Despite the above (and maybe through the lens of time and therapy), I remember my college and fraternity experience positively. As you will see in the next chapter, like the Delta Chi’s, these weren’t the average fraternity guys. They know my story now and I was able to come out to my friend before he passed away (he was a fraternity brother). In hindsight, I like to think that while the rest of the campus wasn’t particularly welcoming, they, at least would have supported me.
Thanks for the restack!