Your friend, professor, sister or brother could be a homosexual.

A Gay/Lesbian Union panel stressed Monday to a small, but vocal audience that any type of person can be homosexual.

“There’s really no difference between you and me,” panel member Leanne Rossi told the 10-member audience.

“There’s nothing wrong with me,” Rossi said. “I hate it to death when people say you’re wrong, you have a problem, you need to change your life.”

Joel, a panel member who asked that his last name remain unpublished, said studies indicate 10 to 20 percent of the population is homosexual.

“However, most homosexuals think the number is a lot higher than that,” Joel said. “Gays know a lot of closeted gays.”

The panelists met some opposition from an audience member who said homosexuals were spiritually unsound.

Joel said he respected the views of people who dislike homosexuality, but he does not respect people who actively oppose homosexuals.

“I don’t respect action that is based on homophobic response,” Joel said. He defined homophobia as action against homosexuals coming from a prejudiced attitude.

Panelist Liz Geisler said a lot of people are homophobic because they are insecure about their own sexuality. “I used to put down homosexuals a lot when I was younger,” she said.

Homosexuals have a negative public image because “society bases homosexuals on promiscuity,” she said.

Rossi said the public needs to be educated that homosexuals are capable and normal people. “I want to get married to a woman and have children and own a washer, dryer and microwave like everyone else,” she said.