Coming out on a South African university campus: Adaptations of gay men and lesbians

Abstract

Abstract Despite Africa's sordid view that same-sex behavior is a “social syphilis,” gay and lesbian students at Stellenbosch University in South Africa are developing networks of support and becoming visible both on and off campus. This exploratory study examines the opinions and beliefs of 20 gay and lesbian students (one student identified as bisexual) and the relationship between their social support networks, their involvement in a gay and lesbian Society at Stellenbosch University, and their experiences and interactions with others in college and their community. Findings reveal that some gay and lesbian students remain silent about their sexual orientation due to hostile campus environments and fear of discrimination and victimization. This article concludes with a brief discussion of Afrikaner nationalism vis-a-vis the gay and lesbian community in Stellenbosch.