<p>So I'm writing my supplemental essay, and I want to talk about how Swarthmore's social justice atmosphere and resources will help me get involved in LGBT issues, which has long been an hope of mine.</p>
<p>I'm wondering whether I should clarify that I myself am not gay. On the one hand, it might show that I care about problems even if I am not directly affected by them. On the other, I don't want to come across as a self-righteous suburbanite with a savior complex, and I don't want to make it seem like I'm afraid of being labeled as a lesbian.</p>
<p>What do you think? Should I specify that I'm straight?</p>
<p>So, you say that being involved in GLBT issues has long been a hope of yours. Why? Do you have close friends or family who are GLBT, etc? </p>
<p>I don’t think you need to mention it if it’s not relevant, but if you’re planning an essay topic like that, you’ll probably want to explain why GLBT issues are so interesting and important to you. You say you don’t want to come off as a self-righteous suburbanite with a savior complex, and explaining your motives will certainly help with that. Whether that involves any kind of disclosure or not is up to you.</p>
<p>@etseltec: I have a couple of gay friends that are very important to me; that was what my common app personal statement was about, so I didn’t know whether I should mention it again.</p>
<p>I would imagine it would be hard to write an essay like that without discussing your role as an ally, as opposed to a member of the queer community. If you wrote your entire common app essay about it, I think it might be confusing to center your Why Swat on it, particularly if you haven’t actually already been doing this kind of work…but research the organizations, and talk about them from where you’ll actually be standing. Feel free to message me if you’re interested in the organization on campus that deals specifically with queer issues while remaining open to non-queer people.</p>
<p>Either way, I do think your position as an ally trying to find the tools to help would be different than someone’s position within the queer community, so if you’re going to bring it up, I would not say that you’re straight, but ally-language will make sure that you’re covering your bases.</p>