A better system for Greek gays, but some say more needed

David Azzolina, a 1978 College alumnus, remembers being spit at by fraternity brothers who lived at the corner of 36th and Locust streets.

The fraternity, Phi Kappa Sigma - more commonly known as "Skulls" - used to humiliate its pledges by making them "ask people to sign a petition for gay rights and dance together on Locust Walk," Azzolina said.

And when Azzolina, who is gay, confronted the fraternity about the practice, he provoked the aforementioned response.

The Greek system, and fraternities in particular, is often viewed as anti-gay and conducive to homophobia. But some say that, since Azzolina's experience, the situation has improved significantly - although not entirely.

Phi Kappa Sigma, for example, now has a number of gay brothers. College senior Patrick Fisher is one of them.

"It has been positive, for sure," he said, referring to his experience in the fraternity.

Fisher said he was out when he rushed the fraternity, but the issue of his sexuality "never came up."

Wharton and College junior Jon Kiman, a brother at Pi Kappa Phi, is also gay and said he came out his sophomore year, after he had gone through the pledging process.

"I've had a good experience," he said. "My friends are a good support system."

His fraternity brothers even threw him a party when he returned to campus after going home to come out to his parents.

Scott Reikofski, director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, wrote in an e-mail that the environment for gays in the Greek system has improved in the 12 years that he's been at Penn.

"At the same time, there are chapters that are not as supportive, and maybe not as experienced at understanding and dealing with gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered members," Reikofski added.

Kiman particularly noted that the language in fraternities "is not necessarily supportive of homosexuals."

Wharton junior Austin Pena, who is the president of the InterFraternity Council and is straight, agreed with Kiman during a panel held on March 21 as part of QPenn - the week-long celebration of LGBT life at Penn - that discussed the intersection of the LGBT and Greek communities.

"I agree it's a really bad problem," he said. "It's that language that you hear at frats that really perpetuates the stereotype" that fraternities are homophobic.

While Kiman and Fisher illustrate the openness of the fraternity system relative to years past, other current students have stories that highlight the need for further improvement.

For example, College senior Joshua Matz faced intense verbal abuse after being "forced out of the closet" by a brother in his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Society.

Matz said comments like "I don't think you should be in this house because I think its disgusting" and "How many gay guys are you bringing to the next party" were common.

He added that, before he came out, his roommate in the fraternity casually said he'd "rather kill a roommate than live with him if he was gay."

And every time Matz sponsored a new member, "their sexuality was questioned" by other frat brothers, he said.

Matz left Kappa Alpha as a sophomore.

"I haven't looked back," he said, adding that other smaller issues contributed to his decision to leave.

College junior Adam Dulberg, who is the former Kappa Alpha president and is straight, said the fraternity "has no problem with homosexuality at all."

"In our opinion, Josh's experience was based more on personality clashes than on his sexuality," Dulberg added. "He has his own take on things, and we respect his perspective."

And Mark Bachman-Panayides, an openly gay member of Kappa Alpha, says that "the house as a whole has been extremely kind to me - I haven't had any problems."

"I've had a great time," he said.

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