But Kirkland Senior Tutor Garth O. McCavana says that, because of non-ordered choice, the house population is now home to a "much broader spectrum of the University as a whole."
"I've certainly heard it [that Kirkland is not tolerant]," he says. "Like most stereotypes, I don't think it's valid."
And Eliot resident William T. Dougherty '93 disputes charges that his house is hostile to gays.
"I am comfortable here," says Dougherty, who is an editor of the gay magazine Hq. "[But] there are other people who come in from Adams who feel very uncomfortable."
Eliot is not anti-gay, he says, but it is "socially very rigid" and overtly political or controversial behavior is frowned upon by house residents.
The distinction that Dougherty draws between those gay students who feel comfortable in Eliot and some who do not is an important one, he says. Not all gay students conform to the flamboyant stereotype of a man in "pink chiffon."
The gay community is far from a monolithic one, according to Dougherty. Other students agree. "Too often at Harvard, gay issues are equated with liberal or radical issues," Dougherty says. "We have all these different viewpoints--there is no one gay agenda."
In a population estimated at 600, gay students say, there can be no single personality or way of living--a fact they say people ignorant of Harvard's gay population often do not consider or realize.
There exists a large number of gay students who have not declared themselves publicly gay, otherwise known as "coming out of the closet." No one knows how large this group is, but some believe it could be the majority of Harvard's gay students.
Students who do decide to come out at Harvard can draw on a large network of support groups. The most prominent student organization for bisexual, gay and lesbian students is the BGLSA, which functions both as a social and political organization.
"Because it's the main organization for bisexuals, gays and lesbians, we have to be a social organization," says BGLSA co-chair John A. Frazier '95. "We also have to make a strong political presence, make our voice heard."
A number of students say they meet people and gain an essential sense of community through the BGLSA. The group holds weekly meetings and sponsors dances every month.
However, others say many students have little to do with it--socially or politically. Another gay population, one which tends to remain strictly to itself, centers around organizations like the Hasty Pudding, some final clubs and certain singing groups, according to Timothy M. Hall '93, an Hq editor.
Such students "tend to be conservative, sociable and closetted," says Hall. In addition, this gay population tends to remain strictly to itself, he says.
"They don't write letters to The Crimson saying 'I'm gay and you've offended me,' they don't go to rallies, they don't go to BGLSA meetings," Bruch says.
