Gabe Granillo is a sophomore in the College of Biological Sciences. After growing up in more conservative Arizona, he found his second family at the University of Minnesota.
“I came from Arizona and I actually went to a Catholic school for nine years. So I think that kind of sets the tone of how I felt dealing with sexuality.
Starting in 5th grade I started getting told that who I was – and what I was – was a sin and all that jazz. When I started high school everything was fine, except I was the only out gay person. And that was so weird because I felt like I couldn’t relate to very many people. Of course my friends were there to support me.
But when I came here to the U, my academic advisor, somebody who is in the professional setting, I walked into his office for the first time and he told me he was gay. I was like oh my god me too. It just really set the tone for my experience in Minnesota. He was the first person I interacted with, like a physical person of the U.
Not only did he handle the academic side, he also wanted to know me as a person and my experiences as a gay person going into the U.
Having that was so nice – coming from somewhere where it’s viewed as bad and you can’t really talk about it, to coming here. I told my mom about it and she started crying. She was so happy I was finding my second home, like you’re away from home but I was finding somewhere I’m accepted and loved.
People understand me here at the U. It was amazing to find somebody that understood me and was there to guide me. I’m able to be myself here.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Interview conducted by Karri Seland.