What is it like being in the closet while being knee-deep in the life of a fraternity brother?
That question was the unfortunate reality for University of Alabama graduate Austin Gaddis.
While talking to the Sun Herald’s Out Here in America, Gaddis shares that he was emotionally lost due to his closeted sexuality. On top of that, Gaddis joined the Kappa Sigma fraternity and eventually became the president of his chapter.
Thankfully, having to be so social ended up being his saving grace.
“I knew that in order for me to have the experience that I really wanted, the Greek system was what I needed,” Gaddis said.
While Gaddis originally chose to remain in the closet within the confines of his fraternity, he says there was an underground network of gay fraternity brothers. After discovering this network, Gaddis’s sexuality and personality finally flourished to their full potential.
“There was this whole subculture of fraternity guys,” Gaddis said. “And finally, for the first time, we’re able to interact without it being by something like word of mouth.”
Gaddis, who now works in the field of law in Washington, D.C., has become open enough to talk about his past experiences as being a closeted fraternity brother, growing up in a small town, and joining a secret network of gay frat men.
If you want to hear all that and more, give the podcast interview with Out Here In America a listen.
h/t: Out Here In America, The News Observer