Not from a personal experience, I've just always been curious about this, since it's generally a taboo subject. Does anyone know someone who was paired with a guy or girl in residence that was gay (or know someone who is gay that was paired with someone straight)? Did they come out during residence or after? How did the straight one react? Were there any special agreements made between the two roommates? I knew someone who was living with a lesbian roommate in residence but I've never really asked her about it.

Don't troll this topic please

I think generally someone who is gay won't start hitting on their own room mate unless the room mate was also gay or just extremely extremely irresistible. Think about it this way, are you going to hit on or try to do something with your housemate of the opposite sex?

Worst thread of 2010?

Yes, I know someone who had a gay roommate. It was no big deal at all. They didn't need to make any "special agreements." They were totally cool about it.

I totally agree with what killza said. I think the gay person would be careful of who to "hit on" especially if it's a roommate and they have to interact with them everyday..

Originally Posted by killza

I think generally someone who is gay won't start hitting on their own room mate unless the room mate was also gay or just extremely extremely irresistible. Think about it this way, are you going to hit on or try to do something with your housemate of the opposite sex?

You missed my point. That's the immature, stereotypical, homophobic fear when you are paired with a gay roommate. I was trying to get at stuff like, what was the initial reaction? What did they talk about in the first week? Has it changed their views on homophobia?

I brought it up because it's a very taboo topic of discussion that I know a lot of straight guys have thought about going into university.

And about your last point... funny you bring that up... haha that's all I'm going to say.

Well, as someone who is openly gay I'll tell you my interesting experience:

So I spent the whole summer before uni freaking out beyond belief. Coming from a small town I've been subjected to homophobia from my peers in high school. I was scared crapless that I would have a homophobic roommate and that they would have all these assumptions about me. I even worried about my physical safety. I spoke to my roommate a few times before moving into rez, he seemed nice from what I could tell. Then when we moved in I began to wonder to myself "hmm is he gay?" Then I finally did a proper creep of him on facebook, and to my surprise he was also gay.

What are the odds of that happening eh? I still didn't really talk about my sexuality to him, we didn't really connect because of the Brandon Hall fire, so he found somewhere else to live while I decided to stay in a hotel then move back to Brandon. We still chat and see each other from time to time though.

But for the first few days in rez I was really hush hush about my sexuality, something I didn't really do, but then once we all started getting to know each other, I began to openly share my identity after feeling more comfortable around people. If my roommate was straight, I don't really know what special arrangements I'd want. I'd most likely wanted to be treated like I was just the average roommate. It's not like I'd be creepy or anything and watch them undress and whatnot, because I'd be creeped out if the same was happening to me.

And in terms of hitting on someone: I'm not hitting on anyone until I know for certain they are gay. For a variety of reasons, including safety. Unfortunately we live in a society constructed by heterosexism, so I have to be careful who I'm going to share my identity with, and who I can express my feelings with. In a perfect world the simple response would just be from anyone "oh sorry man, I'm not gay" and I would respond with "okay sorry, cool" but unfortunately not everyone is like that.

/end rant.

I don't think its big of a deal, I have a gay friend who was randomly placed with a roommate back in first year. And he told him from the first day that "I am gay, but I have no interest or reason to hit on you what so ever" And they never had a problem. Sure, the roommate was first more like ... WHY ME? but u know they never had an issue.

Homosexuality is still taboo?

:S lol

Originally Posted by jamescw1234

Well, as someone who is openly gay I'll tell you my interesting experience:

So I spent the whole summer before uni freaking out beyond belief. Coming from a small town I've been subjected to homophobia from my peers in high school. I was scared crapless that I would have a homophobic roommate and that they would have all these assumptions about me. I even worried about my physical safety. I spoke to my roommate a few times before moving into rez, he seemed nice from what I could tell. Then when we moved in I began to wonder to myself "hmm is he gay?" Then I finally did a proper creep of him on facebook, and to my surprise he was also gay.

What are the odds of that happening eh? I still didn't really talk about my sexuality to him, we didn't really connect because of the Brandon Hall fire, so he found somewhere else to live while I decided to stay in a hotel then move back to Brandon. We still chat and see each other from time to time though.

But for the first few days in rez I was really hush hush about my sexuality, something I didn't really do, but then once we all started getting to know each other, I began to openly share my identity after feeling more comfortable around people. If my roommate was straight, I don't really know what special arrangements I'd want. I'd most likely wanted to be treated like I was just the average roommate. It's not like I'd be creepy or anything and watch them undress and whatnot, because I'd be creeped out if the same was happening to me.

And in terms of hitting on someone: I'm not hitting on anyone until I know for certain they are gay. For a variety of reasons, including safety. Unfortunately we live in a society constructed by heterosexism, so I have to be careful who I'm going to share my identity with, and who I can express my feelings with. In a perfect world the simple response would just be from anyone "oh sorry man, I'm not gay" and I would respond with "okay sorry, cool" but unfortunately not everyone is like that.

/end rant.

Easy on the essays i know you like writing papers but it has only been a week since break so CALM DOWN SON

I know someone openly gay who was placed with a roommate who was VERY homophobic (and open about her disgust with the "gay lifestyle"). I'm pretty sure they just didn't speak at all after Dec or something, and made every effort to avoid each other. Everyone else I know has had pretty accepting roommates. They usually didn't bring it up, but also didn't try to hide it, and eventually the roommate pretty much figured it out.

Originally Posted by jamescw1234

Unfortunately we live in a society constructed by heterosexism.

/end rant.

well when ~90% of society of heterosexual it makes sense...

Originally Posted by julianface

well when ~90% of society of heterosexual it makes sense...

I know, but I don't think we should assume everyone in society is heterosexual because it's not inclusive. Society in general is driven by dominance, the 'white, middle class, heterosexual, middle aged, able bodied male' is the perspective that drives most of society's norms. I think that it's really important that we challenge these norms and the dominance.

I totally agree with you it just came out the wrong way to me lol I hate how every movie protagonist is SWM (straight white male) and anything else gets classified as something else like a gay film or a black film its ridiculous. I also find it ridiculous that as a SWM myself society expects that I am going to succeed and that based on that I'm expected to be able to get jobs easier.

Originally Posted by jamescw1234

I know, but I don't think we should assume everyone in society is heterosexual because it's not inclusive. Society in general is driven by dominance, the 'white, middle class, heterosexual, middle aged, able bodied male' is the perspective that drives most of society's norms. I think that it's really important that we challenge these norms and the dominance.

Did you take Anti-Oppressive Practice 2BB3 this past term? Your last 2 sentences scream Gary Dumbrill.