Newsgroups: bit.listserv.gaynet
Date:         Wed, 22 Jul 1992 10:30:45 -0400
From:         gaynet@ATHENA.MIT.EDU
Subject:      GayNet Digest Volume 5 Issue 568

In this issue:
                 "One Life To Live" (Tuesday -- LARGE!)
                               Tea time?
                    GayNet Digest Volume 5 Issue 566
                   The End of Gay Community NEws?????
                        request for literature
                                  help
                         Vatican and repentance

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----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Greg Pratt <aragon@lachesis.acm.rpi.edu>
Subject: "One Life To Live" (Tuesday -- LARGE!)
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 92 1:41:20 EDT

Today's episode is a doozie in terms of the progression of the storyline that
is progressing with Rev. Carpenter and Billy Douglas, and the rumor that was
started about Andrew being gay and hitting on Billy.  Because of this, I have
gone to the difficulty of typing in what was said at the vestry meeting.  I
thought it would give a better feel to tell you what was written in the
script, and what was actually done at this meeting, rather than trying to
encapsulate it into a couple of long paragraphs.  Likewise, this entire
posting is probably quite a bit longer than I would normally write.


The opening scene of the show is in the Buchanan kitchen.  Joey and Alana are
eating at the kitchen table, while Viki is going tunnel-vision.  She has
Sloan's illness to contend with, and, as she announces to Joey and Alana,
there has been  an emergency vestry meeting called for that afternoon.  She
asks the two of them if they know what it's about, and they respond that they
don't.  Viki tells them of the charges that have been leveled against Andrew,
as well as the intention of the vestry to vote on whether or not Rev.
Carpenter should be asked to resign.  Joey and Alana (especially Joey) get
nervous as Viki asks them if they know anything about what happened with
Billy: "I was hoping you might know something that could help Andrew."  She
doesn't know that Billy is gay; however,  she does know that Billy has
remained totally silent while Mr. and Mrs. Douglas have gone gun-ho in
spreading the rumor itself, as well as moving to remove Andrew Carpenter from
his position.  Joey agrees  to go with Viki to talk with Billy, as does
Alana.  As Viki leaves to prepare for the trip into town, Alana scolds Joey
for breaking their pact of silence to protect Billy.  He tells Alana that
someone has to stand up for Andrew, to protect him as well.


Sloan Carpenter, Andrew's father, talks to Bo Buchanan, who has also been a
friend of Andrew for a long time.  He asks him to go and talk to his son to
get him to deny the charges that he is a homosexual.  He agrees, but he says
he refuses to pressure him.


Andrew has brought Marty to his office, and is essentially grilling her.  She
denies everything, and even starts going on the offensive.  She tells Andrew
that he is being paranoid, but "I hear that's one of the problems with being
gay in today's society."  She adds that he should know this, along with
wonder-boy Billy.  Andrew finally loses his patience at this remark, and
tells her to get out.  She is still babbling all the way to the door, while
Andrew keeps telling her to get out of his office.  He finally barks, "Get
out of my office!" and slams the door behind her.  He calms down slightly,
and says to himself, "Marty, I am sure that God will forgive you, but I'm not
sure that I can."


In the cafe where Joey and Alana have found Billy, the three of them sit at a
table, joined by Viki Buchanan.  She introduces himself, and tells him where
this mess is leading: to the destruction of Andrew Carpenter.  Billy tells
them, in private, that Andrew never laid a hand on him, or even tried.  Viki
asks him to tell this to the vestry at the meeting that afternoon; Billy says
that he can't (he is getting nervous).  His mother is on the vestry.  Billy
freaks out and runs out of the cafe.  He is afraid of responding to the
questions the vestry might pose, even though Viki assured him that she would
keep the other members at bay if necessary.


Okay, now we come to the beginning of the vestry meeting.  Present is someone
who we later find out is named Mr. Clarkson (his first name was mentioned
last week when the character was introduced, but I don't recall it now).
Also present are Viki Buchanan, her friend Renee (who is siding with Viki),
Elizabeth (last name also forgotten; she is a snotty old bitch who is siding
with Clarkson against Andrew), and Mrs. Douglas, who is referred to as
Virginia throughout the meeting (everyone seems to be on a first name basis
here).

Anyway, here is the dialogue, in a sort of script format:

Clarkson:  (reading a letter)  "My son came home today with just one thing on
           his mind, just one question: 'Daddy, what's a homo?'  I asked him
           why he wanted to know.  He said to me that all of his classmates
           were talking about 'the homo minister.'  My son is eight years old
           -- what should I answer him?"  (Clarkson stops reading the
           letter.)  Now all of these letters are from concerned members of
           our congregation.  Deliberately or not, Andrew has made himself a
           role model... not just for our congregation but for the town of
           Llanview itself.  And now we suddenly find that our role model is
           _tainted_...

Renee:  "Tainted" wouldn't be the right word in any case.

Viki:  Even if Andrew were gay, which I have repeatedly reminded you he has
       not said he is...

Elizabeth:  Why _won't_ he say _what_ he is, whatever he is?

Viki:  Because, Elizabeth, he is defending a principle, and that is a
       person's right to privacy.  Sexual preference is a private affair, it
       is not a matter of public concern.

Clarkson:  But if he is... if this man is a homosexual... and call me a
           conservative, Viki, because I believe, still, that it is a sin
           just like the Bible says... what kind of message are we sending
           out?  This man is dealing with innocent children!

Viki:  Oh now wait a minute...!  Look, I know we are dealing with a very
       emotional subject here, all right, but I am getting... I'm getting
       very emotional here, so I think we should stick to facts... of which I
       have some.  All right, I've done my homework; I've done a great deal
       of reading, and I have consulted _medical_texts_ ... and I have two
       facts in particular that I would like to point out, *now*.  (Clarkson
       looks "unamused"; Elizabeth is also looking quite unimpressed.  Viki
       is warming up, and seems proud of her research, and very determined to
       speak her mind.)  Fact number one -- FACT:  Homosexuals -- gays -- do
       not go about recruiting other people to be gays.  You are what you
       are.  It's not like in the draft -- you cannot coerce someone into
       changing their sexual preference.  Fact number two: gays statistically
       are no more likely to be child abusers than heterosexuals.  (Elizabeth
       gasps indignantly)  It is *true*, Elizabeth!  It's true!  A gay
       minister, per se, is no more of a threat to a child than a straight
       one is!

Elizabeth:  Victoria, it's not just a question of the threat... (Elizabeth
            holds her hands to her head, as though she's trying to figure out
            what she is trying to say.)    Now, the Episcopal Church may
            still be debating whether or not to ordain a man who is openly
            homosexual, but The Bible... *The Bible* is very clear on the
            subject of sexual perversion!

Renee:  The Bible is also very clear on the subject of pork.  And I think
        I've seen you wolfing down a bacon club or two.  (Impertinent guffaws
        from Elizabeth and Clarkson)

Clarkson:  We're not talking about our eating habits here (annoyed)...

Viki:  Now just a minute, she has a point.  The Bible is not just a testament
       of our faith, it is a historical document.   Well, The Bible says it
       is perfectly okay to buy and sell human beings as slaves.     The
       Bible says it is okay to trade for wives.  It says it is fine to offer
       calves and lambs as burnt offerings.

Clarkson:  I think I speak for the majority of the vestry committee in
           calling for appropriate measures... to deal with this ungodly
           mess!  I am proposing to ask Viki, as the rector's warden... you
           go to Andrew immediately and ask for his resignation.

Renee:  *Whoa*, wait a minute here...!  We have not even discussed what I
        think to be the central issue here.  Where are these accusations of
        Andrew coming from?

Viki:  Thank you very much much Renee... exactly the crux of the problem.
       _Who_ made these charges against Andrew, and why?  Virginia, somebody
       came to you.

Virginia:  I'm afraid you'll have to respect my right to privacy, Viki, where
           that's concerned.  My husband and I saw enough with our own
           eyes...

Viki:  I don't know what you and Walter saw, but I do know that Billy has
       denied these accusations, completely!  Isn't that true?

Virginia:  Actually, Billy didn't want to talk about it much...

Renee:  Well, that wouldn't be surprising, either way.

Virginia:  ...but yes, he told us the intended seduction never took place.

Viki:  Then why in God's name would you have reason to doubt that your son is
       telling the truth?

Virginia:  My husband is afraid that Billy is too young and naive to
           understand what might have been going on.  (Billy peers in
           doorway.)  And he can't really say what happened.

Billy:  Yes mom... yes I can.  (Virginia is surprised by her son's presence.)


The next scene (that one took 5-7 minutes, which is an eternity in soap opera
time) at the country club restaurant.  Marty gives a note to the maitre d',
telling him to give it to Cassie, Andrew's girlfriend.  She also gives him a
twenty dollar bill to ensure that he doesn't know where it came from.  The
letter reads,  "How's your FAG LOVER in the sack?"  Cassie is pissed, and
looks scared.


Alana stops by Joey's kitchen.  She came by to apologize for blowing off Joey
for putting Billy on the spot.  She says that Joey was probably did the right
thing: "If we put up a wall around Billy, we end up just as unprotective as
his parents.  Besides, your [Joey's] mom is really cool ... she didn't make
him spill his guts or anything."


Back to the vestry meeting:

Virginia:  You don't need to be here, sweetheart.

Billy:  I know.

Virginia: Did anyone make you come here?

Billy:  No, mom.  I came here because I wanted to.  I mean I needed to.  So I
        could... set the record straight.

Viki:  And we do sincerely appreciate that, Billy.  Believe me.  Now you and
       I spoke briefly earlier, but, so that the other members of the vestry
       can be absolutely clear about what you are going to say, I will ask
       you again in front of everyone:  Do you understand what is being said
       about you and Andrew.

Billy:  Yes.  And none of it's true!  Andrew Carpenter never touched me.

Clarkson:  Did he try?

Billy:  No!

Clarkson:  Is it possible that, whoever it is that started these rumors,
           confused Andrew with somebody else?  Has some other older man ever
           approached you?

Billy:  What would make you say that?

Clarkson:  Well, I just want to make sure that you aren't...

Billy:  That I'm not *what*?

Clarkson:  ... out of loyalty, which is a very decent motive, you aren't
           trying to protect someone that you care about, are you?

Billy:  No!  Who would I be protecting?  (His mother is looking nervously
        towards him.)


Clarkson:  Oh, because... someone had been kind to you.  I'm only bringing
           this up, Billy, because it's been my experience that most rumors
           have some small kernel of truth inside... _something_ that starts
           people to talking.  (Billy is looking worried again and is closing
           up)  Now if there is something that you're hiding, I just want you
           to know that everybody in this room... we all care about you.  And
           if there's anything at all you want to get off your chest,
           anything at all that you want to bring out into the open...

Virginia:  Mr. Clarkson, *please*!  This is not a fishing expedition, is it?
           Now Billy answered the question we needed answered.  I think he's
           entitled to his right to privacy, don't you?   (To Billy) You were
           very brave to come here.  You want to go home now?  (Virginia is
           crying softly now.)

Viki:  Thank you Billy.... (Silence.  Billy leaves.)


Andrew is waiting in his office, pondering over what Meghan told him.  Bo
stops by.  Andrew tells him that he's waiting for the vestry meeting,
imagining what sorts of crap they are tossing around about him, like "the one
about Andrew and the flying saucer and an orgy, and Elvis was there."  He
tells Bo that this whole mess would probably just vanish if he would just
tell someone the truth -- that he isn't, nor has he ever been, gay.  Bo tells
him, "Isn't it time now to tell them?"

"When is it time to betray your values?" is the reply from Andrew.  He goes
on to tell Bo, "I think that the people who would want to do that are the
same people who would try to control you through fear and hatred."

Bo mentions to Andrew that his father actually was wanting him to come over
and "talk some sense" into him, and Andrew flies of the handle.  Bo tells him
that he had no intention of pressuring Andrew as Sloan had probably wanted;
he is still Andrew's friend.


Cassie's mother, Dorian, sees Cassie with the letter; Cassie hides it and
doesn't say anything to her mother.  "Keeping secrets from Mother?"


Andrew finally tells his father off:  you hope I don't turn out like his
brother William, who wasn't "a real man" to Sloan.  "If you can't handle your
disappointment with me, Dad, why don't you take your grief, and go back to
Old Tidewater, because I don't want you here.  Go home."


The final scene of the vestry meeting today, and of the show:

Viki:  I think perhaps we could all use a breath of fresh air, and a little
       time to clear our minds.  Let's say, half an hour.  And then, perhaps
       we could come and vote on whether or not to ask Rev. Carpenter for his
       resignation.

Elizabeth:  Yes... I, uh... I think a little fresh air would be... lovely.
            I, for one, don't care how hot it is outside.  (Elizabeth gets up
            snottily and leaves.)

(Everyone gets up and leaves; Viki stops to talk to Virginia, who is still
crying a bit.)

Viki:  Virginia, may I... may I talk to you just for a moment... please.

Virginia:  (weepy)  I think I need to get some air.

Viki:  I understand.  Virginia, it's obvious that you have the deciding vote
       here... the swing vote.  And that's the vote that will decide the
       fate... of the most effective pastor this church has ever had.

Virginia:  I am aware of my responsibility, Viki.

Viki:  Then I trust you will listen to your heart.  Your son has twice told
       you that these rumors are false.  Now I know your husband thinks that
       he's under somebody's thumb, but I quite frankly think that Billy is a
       lot stronger than that, and I think that you think so too.  If you
       believe Billy, and if you can get beyond the suspicion and the
       hysteria in this case, then you must see that no harm has been done to
       anyone except Andrew Carpenter.

Virginia:  I thank you for sharing your thoughts.  (Pause.)  I need to do
           some thinking on my own, so I can make a decision.  (Exits room,
           leaving Viki alone in the conference room.)


So, I'd anticipate tomorrow's show should prove to be interesting.  Stay
tuned... :)

-
Gregory Pratt                               "The problem with the gene pool
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute            is that there is no lifeguard."
Association for Computing Machinery                             --- unknown

------------------------------

Date:         Wed, 22 Jul 92 07:55:59 EDT
From: "Michael D. Calabria" <MDCBB%CUNYVM.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
Subject:      Tea time?

I'm heading off to London next week to do some research (and have some fun).
Does anyone have a favorite haunt in London that I should know about. Any
people I should meet? Thanks,

Michael Calabria
Baruch College
City University of New York
bitnet: mdcbb@cunyvm

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 09:28:30 EDT
From: georgick@hal.hahnemann.edu
Subject: RE: GayNet Digest Volume 5 Issue 566

Kevin-

I don't want to start a controversy, but I just had to say something about
your closing "jingle".  I know you probably wrote it to be funny, but I
wanted to point out that most women find being called a "fish" pretty
offensive.  I know its a fairly common term, but it doesn't make me like it
any better.  In some circles, I guess it is used alot and people might become
desensitized to the fact that it is very negative.  So, while I definitely
support the content of your message and your right to flame on, I just wanted
you to reconsider the last line.  I'll hop off my soapbox now :)

Tamara
georgick@hal.hahnemann.edu

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 22 Jul 92 09:43:33 EDT
From: rebecca@psyche.mit.edu (Rebecca Kaplan)
Subject: The End of Gay Community NEws?????

Gay Community News, Published in Boston, is the nation's oldest
LesBiGay paper.  It has recently encounterted dramatic economic
problems, and is having an emergency community meeting to
discuss the future of the paper.
I believe that GCN is a very important community resource.
It is the only queer paper in the area with an explicit commitment to
anti-sexism and anti-racism. Additionally, GCN has provided coverage
on many otherwise marginalized issues such as bisexuality, s/m and
transsexuality. (of course, their coverage in these and other areas
could still be improved, and they're working on it).
GCN is a community paper, anyone is welcome to write for it, submit
photos etc. Everyone is urged to help stuff enveloped, proofread etc.
(this email has not been proofread... can you tell?)

SO, there is going to be an important Re-Organizing meeting, if you
want to have input into the future of the paper, or if you have
any time or money or skills to donate, please come to the meeting.

COMMUNITY MEETING
THURSDAY, JULY 23.
6:30-9:30PM
PIEMONTE ROOM, BOSTON CITY HALL

for more information contact GCN at 426-4469

-rebecca
ps, PLEASE FORWARD this email to any appropriate lists/people

------------------------------

Date:  Wed, 22 Jul 92 09:31:45 -0400
From: Dennis Blyth <dblyth@oatseu.daytonoh.ncr.com>
Subject:  request for literature

dear fellow netters,

another e-mail acquaintance of mine wrote:

>Date: Wed Jul 22 12:10:00 GMT 1992
>
>It might also help to find religious literature that supports PLU.
>I don't know of any, and would like to find for my own reading as well.
>Does anyone else know of publications that address this topic?
>

as i found this network to be a resource in the past, could anybody with
suggestions please e-mail the writer below.  as i am not a reader of this
news feed anymore, AND i think this information could be of benefit to
the entire group, i suggest that people responding to me ALSO copy the
network.

thanks in advance,
dennis

Dennis.Blyth@daytonOH.NCR.COM
Phone: 1-513-445-6580

------------------------------

Date:         Wed, 22 Jul 92 08:56:46 CDT
From: Stephanie Smith <K295SS%TAMVM1.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
Subject:      help

Ron, please contact me.  I have some questions and I need help getting
into the queer nation archives.  Thanks.

Stephanie Smith
K295SS@TAMVM1

------------------------------

From: COULPETG.JABBA@law.mail.cornell.edu (COULPETG)
Subject: Vatican and repentance
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 92 08:38
X-Force-Noop: COULPETG.JABBA@law.mail.cornell.edu

Regarding the recent position statement from the Vatican, Jim
Scally writes:

>another gender.  But even if you are celibate, if you're still
>queer, it's also perfectly fine to fire you from your job, take
>away your kids or keep you from adopting, refuse to rent you an
>apartment, keep you from being a teacher or a coach, keep you
>out of the military.  Nothing wrong with any of that, since
>you're sick to start with and no one should have to be exposed
> to sickoes.
>
>Clear?
>
>Jim Scally
>U of Kansas

Jim, Don't forget the whole point of all this: the power of
repentance!  As far as I understand the Catholic position (and
I'm not R.C. so I can't speak from the insider's view) queers are
"sickoes" who have the possibility of being REDEEMED by the power
of God IF we truly desire it and pray for forgiveness,
redemption, repentance from our queer ways, etc.  Apparently, the
Vatican is just advocating human action on what it perceives to
be divine justice.  It's loathesome to be sure, but we shouldn't
forget this important aspect of the Vatican's view because this
is the mentality that fuels the perpetual myths supporting
"transforming" ministries and the misconceptions of millions that
a sexual orientation is somehow "chosen."

Pax,
Peter Coulombe
Cornell Law School

------------------------------

End of GayNet Digest
********************
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