Harlie

I grew up in Huntsville, Alabama and the first time I came to the state of Indiana was for my college visit at Purdue University. I knew I wanted to go to a prestigious school and I had narrowed my search between University of Maine and here at Purdue. After researching their marching bands and watching videos online I knew Indiana would be my home for the next four years.

I feel that I do not have a whole lot of experience in Indiana outside of Purdue. However, the inclusiveness of the queer community is not as bad as it was at home by any means. The people of Indiana just need a little more exposure and education. Everyone I've met is rooted in this ignorance thing because of religion, small towns, or they've just never met someone who is LGBT before. They have only these ideas of the queer community of being super flamboyant or really sexual. They don't have ideas of us as people, they just have these stereotypes. However, I have never really faced direct discrimination personally.

I wasn't sure that I was bisexual until freshman year of college. After meeting girls on campus and having attractions toward them, I was definite that I was attracted to women and accepted the fact it was okay to like both sexes. I am in a relationship with a man right now and he is really supportive and he asks a lot of questions. My sexuality has been a large part of my relationship however I wouldn't say that it affects my social life.

After graduation I plan on leaving Indiana and moving to Minneapolis, Minnesota. I love the liberal environment and can't see myself ever living in a conservative state long term. They have a more inclusive environment whereas here it feels forced. If I could change anything about Indiana, it would be sexual education. Most high schools don't have a required sexual education program – which is ridiculous. I think people need that information. This had a strong influence over my career path and major (which is Brain and Behavior Science) - eventually I want to open some sort of clinic that provides access to sexual rights and education for the LGBTQ community.