From: atropos@netlab.cis.brown.edu (David O'Donnell)
Subject: What to do about homophobes?
Organization: Enhanced Cybernetic Logic Operating Systems Group
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 21:04:06 GMT

In article <1993Jan2.134545.15286@macc.wisc.edu> anderson@macc.wisc.edu (Jess Anderson) writes:

>You know, I admit to feeling less hostile toward people who
>may have a decent heart but merely haven't thought about it
>at all or enough.  Probably a lot of us know people with
>whom we've been friendly who turned out all right with a
>little shove in the right direction.  After all, I've told
>myself, we're *all* born ignorant.
>
>But really, that should not be neceesary.  A homophobe is
>a homophobe, whether from malevolence or from ignorance;
>the end result for us is the same, either way.  

This last paragraph bothers me. I won't bother to debate on the damage homo-
phobia and heterocentrism/heterosexism do us (all), but the tone of your
words makes me frown. I, for one, -am- willing to give the (apparently)
ignorant at least a -chance-. For example, I offer my stepmother. I've been out
to her for nearly two years, but I know she's pretty clueless about what her
stepson being gay means. Recently I sent her a copy of the UMass-Dartmouth
BiGaLA Newsletter (which I produced), because she contributed to the holiday
recipes in it. When she called to thank me, she expressed a degree of incomp-
rehension about the use of "queer" in my editorial column. I patiently tried
to explain to her the ramifications of the word, and how gay/bi/lesbian people
can co-opt the otherwise derogatory meaning into something empowering. When
we hung up she was still pretty much in the dark, but she seemed to express an
appreciation for what I was telling her, and *I* think her attitudes might
have improved somewhat.
	*I* think that improvement -- even if it *is* minor -- is QUITE worth
taking the effort to try and educate her. As a subculture we do not have the
means to effect a coup and enforce our morals, ideologies, etc on the populace
in general. The most lasting changes are effected through education. If we
do not take the time to at least TRY and educate people who are ignorant of
the truths of bisexuality and homosexuality, then I think we're a pretty
wretched people.

>Your friend is a fine example.  Anyone who says "give me a
>break" should be slapped hard right across the face, without
>hesitation.  Anyone who says "that's reaching for straws"
>deserves a very rude shock.

As long as you take the time to -try- and set your friend right, not just
slap them in the face...

>Your friend, Walter, Cramer, and everyone like them are just
>plain bigots, and I think making finer distinctions than
>that is not very sensible.  There may be shades of bigotry,
>people who are more easily awakened than others, but your
>friend is as much a murderer of suicided teens, a tormenter
>of closeted priests, a harasser of lesbian teachers, a
>taunter of bisexual classmates, etc., as the most virulent
>neo-nazi or religious bigot is.  The differences, if present,
>don't mean a damn thing at the bottom line: these people
>are *all* oppressors.

So what are we to do?

--Dave O'Donnell
  atropos@netlab.cis.brown.edu
  The opinions expressed above are mine only.