Newsgroups: bit.listserv.deaf-l
Date:         Fri, 21 Aug 1992 11:52:04 EDT
From:         "Stephen J. Kotchen" <CASK@CATCC.BITNET>
Subject:      give me break!!!
X-To:         DEAF-L%SIUCVMB.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu

 Everyone - I certainly didn't intend to offend anyone w/the comment:
 isn't one a choice (sexual preference) & the other not (physical
 disability)?

 I truly don't think that you offended anyone with your comment.  A
       look at the wording shows that it is a question, not a
     statement against someone.  The more questions people ask,
       the better chance we all have at erasing negative stereotypes.
       It is human nature to fear what we do not understand.  Asking
       questions is a good way to gain understanding!

 > Does an LGB child need special handling as a deaf child does like
 > learning sign/English, special schools, mainstreaming, etc.?  This
 > is just one of my experiences (kind of like when we were discussing

       Indeed, I have pondered that thought many times myself.  Would I

       have had a better life growing up if I had accepting and
       supportive parents, positive teachers and counselors as role
       models, and similar peers to share experiences with?

       For me, the answer is an emphatic YES!  It should come to no
       surprise that I am also a staunch advocate of residential
       schools as well, and for the exact same reasons.  Like D/deaf
       persons, people who are LGB face a tremendous challenge in
       dealing with seemingly inherent bigotry and prejudice of the
       majority of people.

       Contrary to a recent posters comment, people who are LGB have
       not made any progress at all in that direction.  There are just
       too many barriers against us to even hope that equal access in
       education can occur on a large scale.  Of course, some
       individuals become hidden role models.  But often, these LGB
       role models are discovered, then strongly oppressed.

       My advisor/counsellor in high school was a good example.  At
       that time, I did not know the meaning of labels like LGB, but I
       knew that I was totally different from what everyone expected me
       to be.  My counsellor seemed to nurture me along, encouraging me
       to express my hurt and feelings of inferiority.  He was a great
       role model.  I heard a few years after graduation that he had
       come out to one of the students who was greatly stressed by the
       cultural difference.  That counsellor was fired because he was
       Gay.

 > formed attitudes towards the deaf):  my college roommate thought
 > that she might be LGB & tried it for awhile; you don't "try"
 > deafness/hearing impairment - you either are or you aren't & then
 > psychologically adjust to it.

       Just a minute before you make fast judgements.  I am Hearing
       and did try, (sometimes still do) to be deaf.  When I entered my
       second semester ASL class, we had to do what was called a "Deaf
       experience".  This required us to use wax or foam earplugs to
       muffle our hearing enough that we could not readily depend on
       speech for communication.  Then we had to spend an entire day
       "trying" deafness.  It was quite interesting, and produced many
       good termpapers.  You see, we really did not become deaf, but
       only mimicked one small facet of that lifestyle.

       Similarly, many people experiment with some facets of LGB
       lifestyles.  I remember reading in a Psychology textbook that
       over 78% of all people have at least one same-sex encounter
       of one kind or another in their lifetime.  But remember, these
       people are simply trying to maintain an open mind to other's
       sexual behaviors.

  Dave,

      Is this Gay Discussion list or Deaf Discussion list????
Dave, GO TO THE GAY DISCUSSION LIST AND DISCUSS THIS TO THEM. You're
wasting your time here.

--Stephen Kotchen
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU