They allow people to distance themselves from the unknown. All the same, I feel just as distant without the labels. There is a part of me I don't feel I can share with most people on this campus, and this traps me too. I know there must be some people who would accept me, and I try to figure out who they are. Almost always I feel the risks are too great.
Fear is a powerful deterrent.
Fortunately, I have the few friends I have told who have accepted me, and the group. We don't have a name, other than Discussion group for gay and lesbian students, and even if we did have a catchy name, you wouldn't hear me using it. Even though we have a strong common bond, we are not a homogenous group. Our religious beliefs cover the spectrum of Christianity. And yes, we do take our faith seriously.