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Congratulations
to Paige Parvin, Emory, and Emory Magazine for
the eye-opener “Decade
of Pride” article (Autumn 2002). In April 2002,
I visited the campus for the first time in fifty years.
How the campus has changed! Among the many astonishing
changes was the discovery in the hallway of the old cafeteria
building of an Office of LGBT Life. I couldn’t believe
it. When I attended Emory from 1948 until 1952, soon after
arriving from Cuba, I formed a deep friendship with a
member of a well-known fraternity on campus. The “brothers”
all thought I was worthwhile and went out of their way
to “rush” me and convince me that theirs was
the group to join. They almost succeeded in pledging me
until one of the brothers somehow discovered my alliance
and blackballed me. Happily, my years at Emory were happy,
successful, and memorable ones in spite of this challenge.
I sincerely hope that devoted friends on campus today
do not have to worry about being dismissed as unworthy.
I am a successful retired Ph.D. (U.C. Berkeley) in a devoted
partnership of forty-three years.
Walter
A. Nelson-Rees ’51C-’52G
San
Francisco, CA
Being
a Southern gay man who struggled with his sexual identity
while growing up in Atlanta and attending Emory University
in the 1970s, I was proud to read how the gay community
has evolved and become acknowledged on campus through
both student activism and administration support in Paige
P. Parvin’s superb and informative article, “Out
of the Closet, Into the Quad,” in the Autumn 2002
issue of Emory Magazine. This kind of important
coverage by an alumni magazine serves as a valuable tool
in recording and recognizing the often overlooked history
of gay men and lesbians living in the South.
Jameson
Currier ’77C
New
York City
I
just wanted to thank you for the wonderful article on
the GLBT history of Emory and its current status. I, too,
recall fondly my education and experiences at Emory in
the 1980s, and you captured exactly what it was like to
go to a such a compassionate, diverse university. How
lucky I was to have grown emotionally and academically
in such a positive, supportive environment. Again, as
a gay alumnus, I thank you.
David
Eyler ’89C
Concord,
Vermont
Thank
you for the excellent article “Out of the Closet,
Into the Quad.” Presidents Laney and Chace and lots
of others are to be congratulated for their courageous
leadership and achievements. It makes me proud to have
been the Presbyterian campus minister and an Emory alumnus.
J.
Emmett Herndon M.Div.
Chair, Committee for Inclusion: GLBT
Presbytery of Greater Atlanta
Presbyterian Church, USA
Atlanta
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