From: J056600@LMSC5.IS.LMSC.LOCKHEED.COM
Subject: Re: Speaking ill
Organization: Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, Inc.
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 93 13:01:48 PST

In <randall.726539121@seashore>, Randall Rhea writes:

>>>
>>>And homosexuals wonder why most of public "doesn't like them".
>>>


>Some gays "flaunt" their homosexuality in the Gay Freedom Day Parade.
>Some straight men "flaunt" their heterosexuality by bragging of their
>sexual conquests and how many women they've slept with.

Or gay bashing.  The number who actually participate in physical gay-bashing
is very small, but it's true that these "real men" (shudder) feel that they
are asserting their masculinity by bashing gays.  In either case, I think that
there is at least some insecurity involved.  Those who already feel secure in
who they are and what they are (whether gay or not) don't need to promote
themselves or their sexual preference--they just live their lives, minding
their own business and wishing that others would do the same.

This is the attitude of most gays *I know*.  The gays you know (especially if
you mainly associate with more activist-types) will probably differ.  Imagine
that--human beings being different from each other!  Let's stop the presses!!!
As I am not gay, I can't speak for the "gay community" when I say that.  But
although most of the gays I have known support the *goals* of organizations
like Queer Nation, they do not usually approve of their methods and tactics.
My experience has been that gay men would rather quietly succeed in society
(while neither hiding nor flaunting their sexuality) and lead the way for
other gays to succeed.  Of course, the gays on Usenet probably don't feel that
way, since their is some degree of activism involved in posting here.  That
isn't necessarily bad; it's just a possibility I throw out for discussion.

Again--this is personal observation and not *de facto* societal evidence.

In any event, I think that people who have to flaunt their sexuality may have
some insecurity, but that people who bash them for flaunting are just plain
ignorant and misguided--and that's being charitable in some cases.

>Some gays and gay organizations openly advocated promescuity in the
>70's.  Some heterosexuals and heterosexual organizations did the
>same thing.  The difference is that some heterosexuals are still
>singing the same tune despite AIDS.  The San Jose Mercury News
>magazine had an excellent article a few months back about
>an organization that promotes partner-swapping among straight
>couples.  They even have conventions with seminars entitled
>"The Myth of AIDS and Heterosexuals."

Too many people still think that AIDS is only a "queer disease."  With atti-
tudes like that, there isn't as much caution as is needed.  I have to say that
with respect to AIDS, the gay community has (recently) been acting much more
responsibly than the heterosexuals I know.  It makes me awfully glad that I'm
already happily married...


Tim Irvin
*****************************************************************************
"In a free government the security for civil rights must be the same as that
 for religious ruights." -- James Madison, Federalist #51
Newsgroups: ba.politics