Setting the record STRAIGHT

In the midst of a crowd surrounding Willard preacher Gary Cattell, as he stood speaking about the denial of a charter to STRAIGHT, Duane Gildea and Darin Loccarini stood, ignoring the raised voices. They talked together, listened to each other -- and shared a few laughs.

"I like Darin -- of course, I have closer friends," Gildea laughed, and lit a cigarette. Loccarini told Gildea smoking wasn't healthy. Gildea laughed and told Loccarini he only smoked around him.

The two men shared their feelings about each other while a crowd gathered to listen. And as Loccarini sat on the Willard steps, laughing almost as if Gildea were an old friend, he said he thinks Gildea is a good guy.

"Didn't I always tell you last semester that you were good?" Loccarini asked Gildea. "The guy's smart, brilliant."

Despite the fact that Loccarini's intolerance for Gildea's sexuality hurts him, Gildea said he respects Loccarini's right to express his ideas.

"I certainly respect Darin's tenacity. Standing up for what one believes in is part of the college experience," Gildea said. "I'm saddened this energy is focused in a not-necessarily-constructive way."

The two do not censor their feelings and do not keep information about STRAIGHT's campaign to become a chartered organization from each other either.

"To the best of my knowledge, Duane supplied STRAIGHT with a copy of the (Undergraduate Student Government Supreme Court's) decision," Loccarini said.

Both men agreed the exchange of information between the groups has been open and honest.

While the pair was speaking, observers commented on their conversation. Cattell said the existence of STRAIGHT has opened a door for discussion.

"Without this group, these two people would never have been able to talk together and laugh together like this," he said.

Loccarini agreed with Cattell that the crowd did seem to be enjoying themselves.

"It appears as though the people of STRAIGHT and LGBSA had a good time out here," Loccarini laughed.

However, he said the open interaction between Gildea, himself and their organizations was not a goal spelled out in STRAIGHT's mission statement.

Whether or not "friendly" interaction between the two men was a goal, the two seem to possibly agree to disagree.

"I understand that a lot of homosexuals or bisexuals believe -- and rightfully so -- that people supporting STRAIGHT don't really understand their plight," Loccarini said while trying not to laugh at Gildea, who was joking around. "However, this whole situation stems more from principle and that the hypocrisy of the situation is just as much of a target as is (the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community's) political agenda."

Gildea stopped joking and responded to Loccarini's statement.

"Well put," he told Loccarini. "We don't oppose your views, we oppose your opposing something that's an intrinsic part of us."