Beta Testing: Brothers Zelenty, Belok, and Molldrem try something new.

According to fraternal historian ­Nicholas Syrett, America’s fraternity culture has thrived on a fear of homosexuality since the 1920’s. All-male fraternal organizations, Syrett writes, “compensate for what might be perceived by outsiders as either feminine or gay behavior by enacting a masculinity [of] aggressive heterosexuality.” In order to preempt homosexual interpretations of the fraternal bond, the brothers employ ritualistic paddling, frat house sex, and homophobic epithets to fight their way back to straight.

The Syrettian fraternal tradition poses some pre-professional problems for the young men on the campus of George Washington University.

Read More “Frat Boys at GW Rush to Undo Homophobic Stereotypes” »

Todd Belok, the George Washington University freshman who was kicked out of the university’s ROTC program after two of his fellow program members reported him as gay, has receiving nothing but love from fellow students, community members, and ex-militaries since his story was published in the Hatchet earlier this month. The two fellow ROTC students who outed Belok to their superiors after they witnessed him kissing a male “special friend” in the basement of a fraternity last year haven’t fared so well:

Read More “Outted Gay ROTC Student Praised, Outers Vilified” »