"Real World: New Orleans" contestant Danny Roberts will share his experiences on the show and his relationship with his boyfriend at 7:30 p.m. tonight in Pruis Hall at Ball State University.
As part of a reality-themed month of events during October, Spectrum, the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and straight alliance association at Ball State, is sponsoring events based on reality television shows such as "The Mole," the Heftiest Loser, a game played on "The Biggest Loser," and the "Real World," Zac Davis, Spectrum president, said.
"For example, the Heftiest Loser is played off the show 'The Biggest Loser,'" he said.
Roberts' visit will be a positive image for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, Tyler Crain, Spectrum secretary, said.
"I hope he educates a few people on GLBT issues and gives us more insight into the military's 'don't ask, don't tell policy,'" he said. "Programs such as this are good because it spreads awareness not just for the GLBT community, but for all minority groups," he said.
When Roberts was on the show in 2000, his boyfriend was in the military, Davis said.
"After his season ended on the 'Real World' he really became the gay poster-boy and was in the news," he said. "Last semester I looked up his Web site and found contact information for him. He has gone to other schools, so I thought it would be good to see if he would come to Ball State."
It is great to have him here, Crain said. Spectrum was going to have Roberts speak last year but chose Margaret Cho, a comedian and activist for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender movement, to speak because she has more name recognition, he said.
"Since we've talked about Roberts in the past, but didn't get him last year, we thought we'd invite him back to speak this semester," he said.
Roberts serves as a good example of someone who is positive and open about his sexual preferences, Davis said.
"I really hope he will be a good role model for anybody who has a problem with their identity and that because of him heterosexuals will have a positive outlook on gay men," he said. "There hasn't really been a problem on campus before, but this should help in the long run."
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