'Honor'able mention: Being homosexual
Chris Brittain Staff Reporter
Issue date: 3/26/09 Section: News
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Connor's presentation was titled "Image versus reality on the subject of homosexuality," although he also spoke about various other topics.
Connor, a resident of Lock Haven and a writer for the Lock Haven Express, told his personal story of being secretly gay and joining the first fraternity in the country to accept an African American as well as an openly gay student.
"I remember when his name came up at the front of the room, and all of the guys in the frat start jeering. One of the more popular guys stood up and said 'If we can't accept a gay person, then what are we all about?' He was accepted that day and remained in the fraternity throughout his college career," said Connor.
Rather than talk about the concept of homosexuality in general terms, Connor spoke about his life in Lock Haven in order to convey the same message.
"I kept all the gay people I knew at arm's length," said Connor, "I was very closeted at the time. Five years after I graduated, the president of the fraternity approached me as a respected alumnus and asked me to speak on behalf of an openly gay student trying to get accepted," Connor said. "I chose not to, and he didn't get a bid."
The student Connor referred to was Mike Houseknecht, who was murdered in his dormitory in a year later by his lover, Mike McGarvey.
"I had never heard the story about the murder, and to hear it from that perspective was very revealing," said Johnny Blough, a junior at Lock Haven University.
Love letters were found between the two, and McGarvey took his own life before he was ever convicted of the crime.
Both Houseknecht and McGarvey were found to have been troubled because of their sexual orientations.
"These guys were just mixed-up young kids. We later found out that McGarvey used to physically abuse Mike Houseknecht," said Connor. "I'm fairly sure that if they had had a support system like that of the fraternity, someone could have protected him."
Connor went on to tell a story of being stranded in a helicopter with Malcolm Forbes and Elizabeth Taylor as well as a brief history of his investigative journalism of the Native American casino business.
"I hope that the rest of the speakers we get here are like Matt Connor," said Chris Carroll, a first-year Honors student, "His presentation wasn't very long, but it was probably the most interesting and eye-opening of the ones I've seen this year."
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