Homosexuality offers freedom for Cal State Long Beach student

By David Whisler
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer

Suzanne Spratt is a face in many crowds on the campus of Cal State Long Beach. She is a current student, alumnus, friend, leader and an accidental activist.

Growing up in rural San Bernardino County Spratt considered herself to be a pretty normal girl, and until the age of 13 had no inclination that she might be different. By 17 she was sure and decided to come out of the closet. "It was bad, so I went back in," she said.

After the experience, she felt the pressure from society to conform and explored the heterosexual world.

"I hated myself," she said, "I wanted so bad to be straight."

At 23, Spratt graduated from CSULB with a Bachelor's degree in psychology. While attending she met a girl, fell in love and shortly after graduation she moved to Santa Cruz. Not long after that, due to an impending family visit, she came out again.

Her family took her coming out much better the second time. Her parents love her despite her sexuality, and she has two supportive brothers and a sister that she describes as her best friend.

This is Spratt's fourth semester as a returning student at CSULB, taking classes to bolster her GPA with a plan to apply to graduate school to obtain her master's degree in educational psychology and MFT credential.

In the past, Spratt took part in the Women's Rap group sponsored by the Women's Resource Center, but due to scheduling conflicts this semester she was unable to participate and so she decided to start a group of her own. The new group is open to all women, with a primary focus towards lesbian issues.

Spratt has felt very little negativity toward the group on campus, aside from an offhand remark and the occasional odd look when putting up the purple fliers that advertise the group.

"I outed myself on such a grandiose scale the day I started putting up the fliers, it was great" she said.

The lesbian chat group Spratt created meets each Wednesday from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Women's Resource Center, LA3-105.