Non-heterosexuality is nothing new. Like any other phenomenon that goes against the grain, many look down upon it and judge those who decide to practice and indulge in the lifestyle.  In the United States, it is fair to say that members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and their allies are waging the most modern war against discrimination and inequality.  People of all races stand against non-heterosexuality because of homophobia or because the Bible says that non-heterosexuality is a sin. From where I stand, it seems that acceptance of non-heterosexuals is slowly growing.  Within the African-American community, however, I believe that’s a different story, especially where Black men are concerned.

Recently, an article surfaced from Vibe magazine called “The Mean Girls of Morehouse.”  It discusses the experiences of gender benders, “a subgroup of the gay community,” on the campus of Morehouse College.  Dubbed the Plastics, these flamboyant and eccentric men dress as women on a daily basis; this practice of cross-dressing enhances the men’s self-proclaimed and often self-made androgyny and is frequently the first step toward transitioning into women.  The term “the Plastics” originated in the 2004 film Mean Girls as the name of an exclusive clique of high school girls who thrived on spreading rumors and tongue-lashing anyone who decided to stand in the way of their popularity.

Morehouse College is considered the premier HBCU for young Black men.  Its pedigree for producing outstanding and influential men is what brought Diamond Martin Poulin, one of the Plastics, to the College in the first place.  He dreamed of the opportunity to walk, live and learn as a “Man of Morehouse” in order to go forth and change the world.  The taunting and ridicule of fellow students eventuated in Diamond’s transfer to American InterContinental University.  Not only did  students call him a “fagot” for his decision to wear women’s clothing, the College decided to announce an “appropriate attire policy” in response to the Plastics’ presence on campus that banned women’s clothes.  As “Renaissance Men,” the students were to dress as appropriate representatives of Morehouse College and the institution’s values.  This staunch “social conservatism” came as the last straw for Diamond and some of his friends.

In response to the media frenzy that came after the announcement of the dress code, Dr. William Bynum, Jr., vice president of Student Services, stated that the College respects the “identity and choices of all young men at Morehouse;” however, the attire of some young men did not fit into the dress standards established by the Morehouse leadership development model.  However, I tend to agree with Kevin Rome, Ph.D., the former vice president for Student Services at Morehouse College, who says, “The Morehouse Man is defined by his contributions to society, [not] the way he dresses or identifies.”  The quieter niche of Morehouse’s gay community often segregates itself from the more ostentatious men on campus in order to circumvent any backlash that may arise from criticism of the Plastics.

With all of that said, I say this: judgment of anyone based on lifestyle choices is unfair, discriminatory and wrong.  However, it is possible to remain to true to oneself and push the envelope of acceptance while living in a manner that supports the fulfillment of one’s dreams.  The dress code, for instance, was only valid and enforceable “on the Morehouse campus or at college-sponsored events.”  While on campus, dress accordingly.  When off-campus, dress as a woman.  I don’t think that Diamond fully recognized the power that he had on the Morehouse campus as an androgynous, gay man.  He could have stood as a voice for the underrepresented androgynous men to the heterosexual and gay communities of Morehouse, pushing them to understand that they should not be overlooked in the push for equal rights for everyone.

Fear of change and the rigidity of tradition stop much progress in this world.  Based on the quality of luminaries and visionaries that Morehouse College has produced in its 143 years of existence, it is more than fair to say the College has stood as a beacon of “radical change,” especially when it comes to facing injustices of all kinds.  For Morehouse College to stand as rigidly as it has against these young men, it seems quite contradictory to the inherent values that the institution tries to instill in its students.  I understand the preservation of values and character of the College; however, holding to such a stiff idea of physical appearance will make Morehouse miss a treasure trove of young men willing to embody those values and transfer them into the world as upstanding, influential men of society. --AG

Autriel Galloway is a Senior at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, majoring in Public Relations with a minor in Business. Ultimately, she plans to fuse her two passions-- writing and supporting the spiritual development of others--  to make this world greater than it is today. To learn more about Galloway, check out her website -- www.autrielayne.com.