Ashley Thompson

Project 7

For this assignment, I interviewed my three roommates. I asked them each

ten of the Rochlin questions that I felt would make them think and really question
themselves. Some of the questions I asked them actually caught me of guard
because Ive never imagined having to ask someone this or have it asked to me. I
was actually nervous to ask some of these questions because I didnt know how
theyd react or if their response would be one I didnt agree with.
A lot of the questions were honestly hard to ask because theyre not
everyday questions that you just ask someone about themselves. One of the more
particularly harder questions were Considering the menace of overpopulation, how
could the human race survive if everyone were homosexual? This question was
actually the hardest for my roommates to answer because they never really
considered the possibility of overpopulation. One of my roommates grew up in a
very Christian, church-going household and she was taught that it was wrong to be
homosexual or bisexual (she doesnt have a problem with them though) and even
with this background, she still found it difficult to answer this question.
My roommate Iceola seemed to be the most uncomfortable of all because of
her Christian upbringing. Some of the questions stumped her and I could see on her
face how some of the questions made her uncomfortable. To the question: Would
you want your children to be heterosexual, knowing the problems theyd face? she
responded Yes, if I grew up that way then you are too. Ill love them regardless but
at the end of the day, I know Im going to heaven, I dont know about you. (I was

actually kind of shocked at this answer. Honestly this is how a lot of Christians I
know feel)
My roommate Taylor was the most open of all. Every question I asked was
met with a long story or explanation. Her upbringing was that of acceptance of
everyone. She told me her mom taught her to respect and love everyone regardless
of sex, gender, etc. To the question: Why do you think heterosexuals feel
compelled to seduce others into their lifestyle? she responded I dont want that. I
grew up in an environment where it was ok to be gay. I like difference. I dont feel
that people are comfortable with the reality of the LGBTQ community. They want
everyone in a box.
My last roommate Keisha was kind of nonchalant about the whole thing. She
was brought up in a Christian household like all of us but she just had an indifferent
outlook. She said she didnt care if her child is gay or not. Im not gonna agree with
every decision you make, but Ill still love you. To the question: When and how did
you first decide you were a heterosexual? she gave a pretty interesting answer.
She said When I was at daycare, this little boy got on top of me during nap time.
We didnt do anything. Just played house and kissed.
I think that the fact that my roommates were so uncomfortable and shocked
with the questions shows that society doesnt see the LGBTQ community as equal
or even as people with feelings. If someone asked me If youve never slept with a
person of the same sex, how can you be sure you wouldnt prefer that? as a
heterosexual female, I would be very offended and look at them like theyre stupid.
Some things are just a given, and your feelings are one of them. Youre always going
to know how you feel deep down. Just like youre born straight, you can be born gay,

lesbian, bisexual, asexual, etc. This questionnaire really opened my eyes to how
cruel and unfair society can be to people they deem different. Even some of the
answers my roommates gave shocked me because I didnt know this is how they
felt about the issue.
As a society, we must stop labeling people and trying to cram them into
boxes to make ourselves feel better. Its a fact that there are different races,
religions, ethnicities, etc. So why not sex and gender? If I ever heard someone being
asked these questions, Id tell the inquirer that you must think before ask such
questions. The subject behind them is a human being. This is a person youre
belittling because you dont agree with their lifestyle choices. Id tell them to look
up the suicide rate for the LGBTQ community yearly because of unacceptance and
bullying/assault. Also, how would they feel if someone asked them the same
questions?

The Questions I Asked

1. What do you think caused your heterosexuality?
2. When and how did you first decide you were heterosexual?
3. Is it possible you heterosexuality is just a phase you may grow out
of?
4. If youve never slept with a person of the same sex, how can you be
sure you wouldnt prefer that?
5. Why do heterosexuals feel compelled to seduce others into their
lifestyle?
6. Why do you insist on flaunting your heterosexuality? Cant you just
be what you are and keep it quiet?
7. Would you want your children to be heterosexual, knowing the
problems theyd face?

8. A disproportionate majority of child molesters are heterosexual

men. Do you consider it safe to expose children to heterosexual
male teachers, pediatricians, priests, or scoutmasters?
9. Considering the menace of overpopulation, how could the human
race survive if everyone were heterosexual?