It was a sunny, cool day about midway through my spring break. I sat in the middle seat of a white Jeep Wagoneer with wooden panels on the sides squinting out the window at the New England countryside.

It was a fitting excursion for our St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. We drove through the little villages and towns that line the coast of Massachusetts, gazing at the old rock walls separating fields and admiring the 1700s and 1800s style architecture of the homes.

I remember, as we stopped at yet another antique shop, how unusual it was to be a white, blonde-haired female from Iowa, to be an obvious minority when compared to many of those around me.

My boyfriend sitting next to me, also pale white and from Iowa, was a minority as well.

Our distinguishing difference had nothing to do with our skin color, race, age, or religious or political beliefs. Quite often, we were a rarity because we were the only heterosexual people around.

We spent spring break with my two uncles. They’re two of my favorite people, and they’re gay. Uncle Tobin is my “real” uncle and Auntie Bob, as he likes to refer to himself, is my other uncle. They’re two of the most giving and hospitable people I’ve ever known.

It’s hardly unusual to have a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender family member these days; whether you are aware of it is another story. Unfortunately in this area of the country, it is somewhat unusual to openly acknowledge those family members for who they are and what their sexual orientation is.

Homosexuality will most likely continue to be a hotly debated topic on this campus and across the country. It seems unfortunate we can’t get past the why and how questions involved with homosexuality and just enjoy our friends, family and neighbors for who they are.

LGBT people bring a certain diversity with them to every conversation and situation they are involved in, just as I bring diversity because I am heterosexual, because I have a farming background and because I am a female. This diversity makes life so much more interesting, I don’t understand why people would shun it.

We need to be aware of LGBT people and their ideas and beliefs, just as we need to pay attention to any under-represented group in our society. It’s not that you should talk to LGBT people solely because their sexual orientation differs from yours; instead, talk to them because they’re people and they’re likely going to have interesting opinions and views.

Next week, we all have the opportunity to become more aware of the LGBT people in our university and community and of the accomplishments they have made.

Beginning Sunday night with a potluck dinner, Iowa State will celebrate Awareness Week 1998. The week of events is sponsored by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Ally Alliance and, according to its Web site, invites all students, faculty, staff and community members to join in a week of events to become aware of the positive aspects of the LGBT community on campus and across the nation.

Throughout the week, some pretty interesting lectures and forums will be held, including:

• “Coming Out in the Residence Halls” on Monday at noon in the Pioneer Room of the Memorial Union.

• “Stone Butch Blues Half (Un)Zipped: The Body of the Text Revealed” on Tuesday at noon in the Gold Room of the Union.

• “Queer Girlz on the Radical Edges” on Wednesday at noon in the Pioneer Room of the Union.

• “Reclaiming Our History” on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Cardinal Room of the Union.

• “Reverse Campaniling” on Thursday at noon by the Campanile.

• “Looking at Campus Culture & Climate Through LGBT & Ally Eyes” on Friday at noon in the Pioneer Room of the Union.

All of the events are great opportunities to become more aware of a community you may know little about. Even if you’re not sold on the idea of homosexuality, you owe it to yourself to talk to the other side and understand where they’re coming from. Next week provides you an excellent opportunity.

After all, I was born heterosexual, but my uncles don’t hold it against me.

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Keesia Wirt is a senior in journalism and mass communication from Panora. She is editor in chief of the Daily.