From: J.W.Harley@newcastle.ac.uk (Jon Harley)
Newsgroups: soc.bi
Subject: Re: Feeling out of place
Date: 19 Nov 92 14:00:13 GMT
Organization: University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, NE1 7RU

crj10@phx.cam.ac.uk (Clive Jones) writes:
>J.W.Harley@newcastle.ac.uk (Jon Harley) writes:
>> crj10@phx.cam.ac.uk (Clive Jones) writes:
>> >I see sexuality as something to do/be, rather than something to hold
>> >political opinions about.
>> 
>> I'm afraid if you believe it should be legal, that's a political opinion.
>> Everything is political. You can't escape having political opinions.

>It *is* legal (more or less).

Some things are, some aren't. Some people think some of the things that
*are* legal, shouldn't be. To voice an opposing view is political.

>> It's fine with me not to be politically motivated (if rather sad in this
>> sort of society), but to deny the importance of politics, I just can't
>> agree with.
>I don't deny it, I just seek to minimise it.

I thought "sexuality is not something to hold political opinions about"
denied it. Glad to see I'm wrong.

>> > OK, so there are prejudicial bits of legislation out there, but
>> >I know plenty of heterosexuals who dislike them just as much as lesbigays,
>> >but are put off by political hackery from supporting the cause.
>> Are you saying we shouldn't dare take action against the prejudicial bits of
>> legislation in case it's seen as political hackery?
>
>"Action"? Deliberately seeking to confront people ("Kiss ins", tying pink
>balloons to lampposts, etc.) is something I resent, as I see it turning people
>off to lesbigay. Going through normal political channels, I don't mind,
>although I haven't the energy for.

I think confrontational action has its place, as do normal political channels.
And every other form of positive action in support of our cause, such as
being interviewed for the press or going on a TV chat show.

As for action such as "kiss ins", sticker campaigns, etc... I doubt they'd
turn people off to the LBG cause, people who weren't already turned off. And
they might turn some people on...

>> Labelling any kind of political activism as hackery sounds to me like a
>> cop-out to excuse yourself from following your conscience and getting
>> involved. In any case there are other ways to be active besides what you
>> see as "hackery".
>
>I'll vote. I'll lend vocal or written support to total equality in law for
>non-heterosexuals. I'll support less restrictive laws on sexuality in general.

Good. Those are political acts, surely stemming from political opinions.

>Besides, governments don't listen to vocal minorities. Going for genuine
>support and sympathy from a broad base in the population, rather than going at
>the government aggressively is more likely to be noticed.

I don't agree with this at all. *Only* vocal minorities ever get noticed,
by the government or the population. How can you "go for" sympathy without
being vocal? And how can you expect change from the government if you don't
ask for it?


/jon
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