At no time in my life have I ever endorsed an individual who was LGBT. However, having grown up in a small community, I wasn't immersed in the community and didn't get to experience the people firsthand. I learned that these individuals are called numerous harsh names such as “Gay Kid, Fag, Queer, and Homo.” One individual explained that he was beaten every day he attended school, and another girl said that her entire family dissociated her until she changed her views on sexual orientation. I can't imagine living every day with the world against me. Just because of a decision, which isn't really even a choice, they are shunned. I have a cousin who attended the University of Northern Iowa, who was and still is gay. He didn't come out until he was in college and his immediate family was decidedly unaccepting of his sexual orientation. I'm happy that UNI is very open towards LGBT people. Everyone deserves to be treated equally, no matter if you are heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual or of any other sexual orientation. I want to thank the panel for dedicating part of their day to educating others about the LGBT community