Gay profs fight for equality

While gay faculty members said that their situation has improved, many argued that more needs to be done. Debi Slatkin lines the walls of her office with feminist and gay rights posters. They remain visible to any of the janitors, interns and co-workers who interact with the associate director of the Consortium for Policy Research in Education. The pictures represent Slatkin's continued effort to be "out," which she defines as being comfortable with -- and proud of -- her sexuality. "I would never hide my pictures or take them off the walls," she said. "When you are not open about your sexuality, you are cutting a part of yourself off. And it takes so much energy." The University has enforced a non-discrimination policy since 1979 in order to assist employees like Slatkin -- and many administrators, faculty and staff said they are openly gay and comfortable with their work environment. Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Association Director Bob Schoenberg said the University is a "positive and supportive environment for gay people," but added that there are still reasons why some homosexuals feel the need to hide their lifestyle. "There are still many people who are not out," Schoenberg said. "I am sure that some people still feel that their jobs may be threatened if they were out, despite the protection." Although Slatkin has been totally open about her sexuality in her workplace for the past eight years, she remains "closeted" among her neighbors in rural Bucks County out of fears for her own safety. Coordinator of Advance Standing Shelley Krause said she has been open about her sexuality for the past 10 years, but emphasized that it is never a "one-and-done situation." "Coming out of the closet is a life-long process, because everyone assumes you are a heterosexual," she said. Krause noted that the process is becoming "easier" than it was years ago, especially in the workplace. "When I say that I am a lesbian, the conversation no longer stops," Krause said. "And this is a big relief because when you are the first lesbian a person meets, you feel this burden to answer questions and to be an educator." She added the University -- along with the rest of the country -- is slowly becoming more accepting toward gays, pointing to the increase in benefits for same-sex partners as an example of the trend. The University began extending financial and legal benefits to same-sex partners in 1994. Communications Professor Larry Gross, however, recalled how certain members of the University community battled for nearly 18 years to receive such benefits, adding that the University chose to wait until "the last dominoes were falling" before deciding to extend the benefits. Many of those who fought for such benefits formed the Lesbian and Gay Faculty and Staff Association, which Gross now heads. "Penn has been better than most institutions," Gross said. "It hasn't had any outrageous examples of bigotry that the University officials have ignored." Social Work Professor Yvonne Williams said partner benefits were not the main reason she chose to work at the University, but added that she would not hesitate to take advantage of them. Williams said she has never felt threatened because of her sexuality, but added that being a black lesbian often causes others to have a hard time treating her as an equal. "Some people continue to have problems with difference," Williams said. "I can be a personification of many things that they have trouble accepting."