The introduction to issue 1 —
It probably goes without saying that some of the views expressed in this booklet do not reflect the views of the Gordon College administration. They don't even necessarily reflect the views of the all the editors.
What they do reflect is a reality about our community. There are students at Gordon College who are gay, bisexual, and questioning. These are some of their stories.
You will find here reflective personal essays, short statements, and one interview. You will find a wide range of human emotion: anger, hurt, brokenness, confusion, and some glimmers of humor and joy.
These stories are coming to you anonymously because many of the writers feared what would happen if people knew who they were. But even the protection of anonymity considered, many of the writers got extremely vulnerable, pouring out to us and to you things they have only told a handful of friends, family members, or nobody at all.
In light of this, we ask that you come to these pages with respect and gentleness.
It might be helpful to imagine that you are sitting in your room with a close friend who is finally telling you what they wish they could have told you a long time ago. You are taking a moment to stop, and listen to this person.
We hope that this publication will confirm that the debate about homosexuality is not merely a political one, and that the questions we need to ask about homosexuality are not abstract. These are real people.
This year's Symposium theme "Authenticity: to know and truly be known" fits in perfectly with the goal of this publication. To better love our neighbors, we need to know our neighbors. And despite all the diversity of opinion and experience in these stories, there seems to be a common refrain: the feeling of being unknown.
– THE EDITORS
April 18, 2007