2005 POINT SCHOLARS

Aaron Arnold

University of Pittsburgh

Sociology

Aaron was raised in a rural central Pennsylvania town with strict conservative and Catholic influences.  Shortly after earning the rank of Eagle Scout, his parents discovered a letter from his boyfriend which prompted them to embark on a crusade of religious counseling and rejection; eventually forcing him to leave home.  Aaron maintained academic excellence while dealing with his personal situation.  Between working and searching for stability during his junior year, Aaron was inspired by a documentary that chronicled the suicide of a gay teenager from his school to found his school’s first Gay Straight Alliance.  Soon after, the conservative administration of his high school suspended him for kissing his boyfriend at school.  After speaking on the Youth Panel at Equality Forum during his senior year he became dedicated to advancing queer causes. 

Aaron is currently pursuing a degree in Sociology with certificates in African Studies and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies at the University of Pittsburgh.  Aaron is the two-term President of the undergraduate queer student alliance, an HIV/AIDS peer educator, a student representative to the Anti-Discrimination Policies Committee and a director of a queer-themed reading group.  In the future Aaron hopes to work with refugee and other disadvantaged populations as a human rights advocate in order to create a more equitable society.