Homosexual Parietals - Volume 12, Number 18

12th Staff Board:

Recently, Brad Anderson ‘95 has raised several issues concerning parietal regulations which impact openly gay and lesbian individuals who he believes should avoid parietal regulations in dormitories of the opposite sex. The Milton Academy Handbook defines Parietals as a time for students to have members of the opposite sex in their rooms, a “time for social privacy not sexual intimacy.” Currently, students have time restrictions for parietals. 

Anderson has begun writing a proposal to be passed on to the Boarding Council, which will offer a “new policy” for parietal restrictions for homosexuals. “Initially,” stated Anderson, “I wanted special regulations for gay and lesbians because parietals are geared towards heterosexuals.” However, Anderson realizes that “there are problems” in keeping track of individual students’ sexual orientation, as well as regulating who can be admitted into an opposite sex dormitory without parietals restrictions. He also realizes that “(the agreement) has to be… comfortable for both gay and straight students.”

In the meantime, Brad hopes to team up with Rich Statter (Boarding Monitor) who is currently working on ameliorating the parietals system. While Brad’s ideas are still forming, his main goal is to “have a worthwhile proposal that can be a catalyst for (interesting) discussion.”