From: GLADSTONE@csmcmvax.bitnet
Subject: WARNING !   FLAMEBAIT with minimal ODC  Read at your own risk!
Reply-To: GLADSTONE@csmcmvax.bitnet
Organization: The Internet
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 21:40:16 GMT

        First, let me say I know how it feels to be discriminated
against for not being all of the following; ( you guess which )
White, Anglo Saxon, Protestant, Heterosexual.
I am some, but not others.  In America, we are unusual in that we are
trying to achieve a multi cultural, multi racial, multi ethnic,
multiply oriented and multiply valued culture.  Such a thing is very
difficult to make work, and is the exception, not the rule.
We have many groups,  while other countries are in continual turmoil
with 2 or 3 groups.  Let this grand experiment that is America succeed.
Most discrimination is totally without a rational basis.  There are,
however, some emotional, if not totally rational reasons why gays face
discrimination.  I live in West Hollywood, a small community where
35% of the residents admit to being gay.  They have permeated every
level of city government, as they are politically active and vote
together.  So calling somebody a 'bad name' is a more serious crime here
than having your car stolen or your home burglerized.  My teenage son
has been victimized and cannot walk around the corner without either
assualting someone or taking a lot of abuse.  The 'main drag' through
town ( no pun intended ) is a continual circus of hustlers, drag queens, and
male prostitutes.  ( I think they are male, it's hard to tell sometimes )
This attracts vagrants from all over the USA.  Many gays are unstable and
emotionally disturbed.  This may be the fault of society and it's intolerance.
Some are not, and I know several whom I hold in high esteem.
I work in a hospital, and see the tragic results of a 'gay' lifestyle.
With what I see, the word gay could not be further from the truth.
In the early phase of the aids epidemic, it was estimated that the average
male homosexual had sex with about 1000 different partners.  This type of
lifestyle provides the perfect breeding grounds for any and all obscure
sexually transmitted diseases.  It is a matter of conjecture, but it is
doubtful that aids would exist in America if it were not assisted by the
rampant promiscuity of gays in the early days.  Hopefully, the rules of
the game have been changed through education and enlightened self interest.
The aids epidemic causes great resentment in heterosexuals.  One of the
most precious gifts of life is now a cause for caution and fear.
I cannot go into a bar for a drink in this town without a hassle.
My wife has been harassed and assualted on at least one occasion when she
went into the corner bar for a drink.  And believe me, we don't look for
trouble.  These are the 'nice' bars with a mostly professional clientel.
There are other bars where a woman ( a real one ) would NOT be allowed in.
Places even I would fear to tread, because there is too much of a risk
of infected blood flowing.  And I am afraid and unwelcome to go into
an establishment for female gays, either alone or with a female.
Imagine the embarasement of getting the dodo kicked out of you by a
woman??
        Yet, these are the people who scream the loudest and blow
whistles to secure themselves into everyplace they want to go.
If only they were willing to allow the same rights to their non gay
brothers and sisters.
        It's very easy to live in suburbia and preach peace.  It's
not so easy on the front lines.
REAL understanding and tolerance must flow in both directions.
And gays must try to understand the difficulties that their non gay
counterparts have in coming to peaceful terms with them.  If not,
Colorado will be the first, not the last.
        When I look in my heart, I don't see hate. We all need to live
in peace, and that is going to take work and understanding on both sides
of the sexual fence.

        And please, my fellow Deadheads, don't go off on a holier than though
flame rampage.  In hundreds of BAY AREA shows, I have noticed that either
1. Gays don't go to shows ( WRONG )   or
2. They perceive the Deadhead crowd as being intolerant and unaccepting of
   their orientation.  So they go in stealth mode.

        If you can't be as wierd as you really are at a SHOW, the paragon
of wierdness and acceptance, then where can you go ?

Peace ( Someday ? )
Gladstone>


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