By Jotham Sederstrom

When Albert Smith strode up to the podium at Medgar Evers College's graduation ceremony last weekend in white gladiator boots and Gucci sunglasses, the whole school cheered.

That's because after four long years of grappling with homophobic slurs from fellow students, Smith became the school's first member of an openly gay club to graduate - an unusual achievement at Medgar Evers College.

Edgar Evers Graduate Albert Smith (l.) and Lamont Joseph, both active in the Life Club, the Crown Heights college's first gay pride club. Smith graduated last Saturday; Joseph still attends.

"I made a mark for myself and the college, too," said Smith, 29, who lives in Flatbush. "It was the greatest feeling in the world to know I had so many supporters."

Smith's popularity at Medgar Evers didn't happen overnight - nor did support for the Life Club, the first school-sanctioned gay and lesbian awareness group in the college's 38-year history.

Comprised mainly of Caribbean-American and black students, the college is rampantly homophobic, said Smith and other openly gay students at Medgar Evers.

Club President Lamont Joseph, 22, helped create the group three years ago, but the club was only sanctioned in July.

At the first meeting, only Joseph and another student were present, but fears of harassment caused Medgar Evers to station a security guard outside just in case. "People weren't always welcoming, but the staff was," said Joseph, who still attends the school.

In one case, a belligerent student confronted Joseph at a club fair at the school, grabbed candy the group was handing out and threatened harm if the group continued.

School officials said they were fully supportive of the group - it now has about 30 members - but acknowledged that bigotry on campus was rampant.

"I think it's very notable, what they've done," said Kenny Bain, assistant director of student life and development at Medgar Evers. "Sometimes in minority communities, there's a lack of understanding about homosexuality. They're trying to change that."

Even guests noticed that Smith was a big deal.

"He had these beautiful white shoes, like gladiator boots, and they came above his ankle," said an awed Councilwoman Letitia James (WFP-Brooklyn), who attended the graduation and, like many others, was immediately taken by Smith.

"He ... was making history at Medgar Evers," added James, who said Smith raised the bar - and eyebrows - by wearing "big Elton John glasses."

"They were Gucci," Smith corrected, noting that his ensemble included a custom-made linen shorts set that he wore under traditional graduation garb.

"I'm really out," said Smith.

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